sprácitis

Sprácitis is a fictional language created by the American linguist and science fiction author L. Sprague de Camp. Introduced in his 1976 novel *The Language of the Gods in the Key of LIM*, sprácitis is a constructed language designed to be the universal language of gods, serving as a medium for divine communication. The name derives from the Greek *sphragís* (σηφραγίς), meaning "seal" or "token," and the suffix *-itis*, suggesting a sacred or ritualistic nature.

De Camp developed sprácitis as a phonetic and logical language, emphasizing simplicity and universality. Unlike natural languages, which evolve organically and often contain irregularities, sprácitis is structured around a systematic phonetic alphabet and a grammar based on logical principles. Its vocabulary is derived from a core set of roots, allowing for the formation of complex words through affixes and compounding. The language is also designed to be easily learnable, with a focus on clarity and precision to avoid ambiguity in divine discourse.

Sprácitis appears in de Camp’s *Lancraft* series, where it is spoken by the gods of the fictional universe. The language reflects the authors' interest in linguistics and mythology, exploring themes of divine communication, the nature of language, and the intersection of human and divine realms. While sprácitis remains a fictional construct, it has been studied by linguists and fans of constructed languages as an example of a highly structured, artificial tongue.

The language’s design includes a phonetic script based on the Latin alphabet, with additional diacritical marks to represent sounds not found in English. Its grammar is agglutinative, meaning words are formed by combining morphemes (meaningful units) without altering their core meaning. Sprácitis also incorporates elements of semantic transparency, where word forms closely reflect their meanings, further emphasizing its logical foundation. Though not widely adopted outside of de Camp’s works, sprácitis remains a notable example of a constructed language intended for divine or cosmic purposes.