esperanto_story1-1, Exercise 2: Constructed and natural languages

Model answer (check the details):

Definitions: a natural language develops over time in a community of speakers, with no single author (English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Hungarian). A constructed language is deliberately designed, by a person or group, usually with stated aims (Esperanto, Volapük, Klingon).

Comparison with Scottish Gaelic on five points:
1. Origin: Esperanto was designed by one author and published in 1887; Gaelic developed over many centuries.
2. Community: Esperanto's community is spread across the world and has no territory; Gaelic has a home territory, mainly the Highlands and Islands, with communities elsewhere.
3. Native speakers: Gaelic has many; Esperanto has a small number of people who grew up speaking it (check).
4. Aim: Esperanto was meant as a second language for everyone; Gaelic is a first language and heritage language for its speakers.
5. Official status: Gaelic has legal recognition in Scotland (check the details); Esperanto has no country but is recognised by some organisations (check).

Difference to note: Esperanto's rules were fixed on purpose in the Fundamento, while natural languages change without a formal body.

Care: the difference is one of origin and aim, not of "realness". Whether Esperanto counts as a full language is a question for Chapter 9.