| Summary: | Attempts to create an International Artificial Language (IAL) have kept pace with the evolution of modern science. Ever since Galileo’s time, scientists have been interested in how to create a perfect language (the adjective “perfect” takes on the meaning of “universal” or “unambiguous” depending on the period) capable of supporting communication at a horizontal level i.e. within the scientific community, and at a vertical level, i.e. between scientists and the public. The first goal of this article is to describe briefly how this need for a perfect language developed over the past years. Special attention will be spent on the mathematicians’ role, especially Giuseppe Peano’s. The second goal is to illustrate how Giuseppe Peano’s contribution to this debate proved twofold and led to various conclusions. The Italian mathematician played a leading role in the creation of a perfect language, both at a horizontal and a vertical level. On the one hand, there is his successful attempt to introduce a standard logical and symbolic system of notation, which became essential for communication among mathematicians. On the other hand, there is the complete failure of his ambitious Latino sine flexione (Latin without inflection), a perfect language which died with its creator.
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