The Greatest Instrument for Promoting Harmony and Civilization: Excerpts from the Bahaa'ai Writings and Related Sources on the Question of an International Auxiliary Language

The Baha'i principle of an International Auxiliary Language (IAL) represents a detailed sociolinguistic paradigm for establishing peaceful and reciprocal relations between the world's primary speech communities -- while shielding them from undue linguistic pressures from the dominant speech community/communities. With a detailed introduction, a glossary, and ample notes and references, this volume brings together a larger selection of Baha'i writings and related texts, from a variety of sources and source languages, as a foundation for our understanding of this unique language-planning proposition.

The Bahá'í principle of an International Auxiliary Language represents a novel paradigm for the establishment of peaceful and reciprocal relations among the world's peoples. This book provides quotations from the Bahá'í writings and related texts regarding the adoption of a common language, chosen by the 'governments of the world through their parliaments', as 'the greatest instrument for promoting harmony and civilization'.