ESPERANTO Esperanto’s impressive success as the language tions as the international language. This view is lawyers. These groups sponsor meetings, pub- of international communication is due to three very unpopular in many countries. lish journals, and otherwise promote the tech- The international language that works! basic advantages. It is easy to learn. It is politi- This attitude is not merely because English is nical use of Esperanto. Other international or- cally neutral. And it has many practical uses. one of the most difficult languages to learn. The ganizations serve the interests of Esperantists newer nations of Africa and Asia are very reluc- who share the same religious affiliation—such Every year, our world seems smaller. Ships carry Esperanto is easy... as Catholics, Protestants, Quakers, Buddhists, a thousand items between countries. Jets carry tant to accept English (or any major language) Esperanto is much easier to learn than any other for international communication because of the Bahai’s—or who share a hobby, such as stamp passengers across oceans and around the world. language. In fact, you can learn it in a quarter of collecting, bicycling, or chess. Satellites bring us live television coverage from political overtones. For example, the countries the time needed to learn a national language! of the Soviet bloc would not want to use En- ...for travel Europe and Asia. Every year, Americans in every The spelling is easy: each letter has exactly one walk of life communicate more and more with glish as an official international language, just Travellers who know Esperanto are not confined sound. The pronunciation is easy: there are no as we would be reluctant to accept Russian in people of other countries. strange combinations of letters to create new to talking with a few people who cater to that role (as some Soviet publicists have actu- tourists. By writing to an Esperanto representa- One barrier remains... sounds, and the accent is always on the next to ally suggested). last syllable. The grammar is easy: there are only tive in each place they visit, they can be sure of As a result of this tremendous increase in con- The Western nations have also shown their sen- being met and helped. Wherever they go, they tacts with the outside world, Americans are real- sixteen basic rules, with no exceptions. (That means, for example, that there are no irregular sitivity to questions of linguistic equality. Que- know they will find friends who speak the same izing that there is still a major barrier to interna- bec has rejected English as its official language; language and share common interests. They tional communication—the language barrier! verbs.) The vocabulary is easy, too: it uses many international words, such as telefono (tele- the Common Market nations insist on using all will meet and talk with the people of the coun- Americans have long heard the cliché that phone), biologio (biology), and matematiko their languages in Brussels; the UN spends tens try, instead of merely looking at its monuments. “Wherever you go, people speak English.” In (mathematics). Esperanto gives a very “natural” of millions of dollars every year translating into At international meetings where Esperanto is fact, at most ten percent of the world speaks impression in spoken or written use; and, be- five official languages and into fifteen for used, they can be sure of clear and animated English! Often, in other countries, only people cause of its high ratio of vowels to consonants, UNESCO! discussions as well as friendly conversations in in the best hotels of the largest cities can use it sounds much like Spanish or Italian. Esperanto is not the property of any one nation, corridors, lobbies, and nearby cafes, free of ear- English, and even they are often not very fluent. group of nations, or social class. It belongs to phones and interpreters. Anyone who has visited a foreign country and Esperanto also uses prefixes, suffixes, and inter- changeable endings to reduce the number of everyone. It has no political or historical impli- ...for correspondence struggled with the language barriers understands cations to hinder its acceptance. Every person this. Americans are at last discovering what the words to be learned. For example, in English we Through Esperanto you get to know other coun- make the words friendly, unfriendly, and friend- who uses Esperanto is on an equal linguistic tries and their people without ever leaving rest of the world has long known: there is a real footing with all other Esperantists. Esperanto’s need for an international language. ship from the root word friend. Esperanto carries home. Books and magazines in Esperanto bring this idea much further, making the vocabulary popularity in smaller nations and in Asian the news and culture of other countries to your Fortunately, there is such a language... easier to learn. countries, such as Japan, is largely due to this door. And, through friendly correspondence neutrality. This promotes a spirit of friendship Its name is Esperanto. It was created by Dr. In short, Esperanto has been rationally con- with people in other countries, you can Ludwig L. Zamenhof, a Polish physician, who and brotherhood among Esperantists which is broaden your horizons and learn more about structed for ease of learning. This has made it quite impressive to everyone who sees it in use. published it in 1887. Since then, millions of especially popular with busy men and women the world. Many Esperantists correspond with people have learned Esperanto. Of the many who cannot spend years learning a foreign lan- Esperanto is practical... those abroad who share their hobbies, others projects and proposals for an international lan- guage, which would be useful in only a single Esperanto offers exceptional practical advan- on topics of professional interest. Many seek to guage over the centuries, Esperanto is the only country. Because of these features, Esperanto is tages. Coordinating these advantages is the learn about foreign customs and how other one that has stood the test of time and is being attractive as an introduction to other foreign worldwide organization, the Universal Es- people live. spoken today. Many thousands of people all language studies. In the Hawaiian schools, for peranto Association. A scientifically constructed language over the world use it every day, and the number example, the study of Esperanto is a basic part is growing constantly. The UEA, from its headquarters in Rotterdam, Some people ask, “But isn’t Esperanto an artifi- of that state’s innovative English program. maintains a network of over 3,500 representa- cial language?” Of course it is. So is every lan- Many international meetings are held in Es- Esperanto is neutral... tives in 66 countries, sponsors many interna- guage in the world. The word “artificial” means peranto. Books and magazines are published by The second major reason for Esperanto’s suc- tional activities, and issues a Yearbook contain- “made by human beings,” and every language the thousands to meet the demands of an inter- ing the addresses of its representatives and in- has been created by human beings. The differ- national public. Some of the largest interna- cess is that it is neutral. It belongs to no one country. Many people in America and England formation on current international activities. ence between Esperanto and other languages is tional firms put on special advertising cam- There are more than a dozen international pro- that Esperanto was scientifically designed to do paigns in Esperanto. Hotels, restaurants and say that English is already spoken so widely and is such an “important” language in the world fessional associations including, for example, a special job—the job of international commu- tourist resorts compete for the patronage of the teachers, scientists, journalists, doctors, and nication—and it does that job superbly. Esperanto-speaking traveler. that it should be officially adopted by all na- Esperanto and the UN Structure : The core grammar of Esperanto consists of Test your language ability only 16 rules, with no exceptions. In spite of this sim- In October 1966, the UEA presented the Secre- Inteligenta persono lernas la lingvon Esperanto rapide plicity, Esperanto can express the finest shades of kaj facile. Esperanto estas la moderna, kultura lingvo tary General of the United Nations with a pro- meaning. por la tuta mondo. Simpla, fleksebla, belsona, ˆig estas posal recommending that the UN solve the lan- la praktika solvo de la problemo de universala guage problem by supporting use of the Interna- Vocabulary: The word roots in Esperanto have been taken from many national languages according to the interkompreno. Esperanto meritas vian seriozan tional Language, Esperanto. Almost a million principle of maximum internationality. Thus, many of konsideron. Lernu la internacian lingvon Esperanto. ESP ER A N T O individuals and 3,843 organizations represent- them are already known to people of all nations. You Check your translation ing 71 million more people from all over the can make many words—an average of ten to fifteen, An intelligent person learns the language Esperanto world signed the petition. Today, an Esperanto but sometimes as many as fifty—from one root. This rapidly and easily. Esperanto is the modern, cultural office operates across the street from the UN, makes Esperanto easier to learn. language for the whole world. Simple, flexible, The international language that works! staffed by a professional linguist and several Technical vocabularies : More than 125 technical dic- musical, it is the practical solution for the problem of volunteers. tionaries and vocabularies in some fifty branches of universal mutual understanding. Esperanto deserves Esperanto and You science, philosophy, technology, and handicrafts have your serious consideration. Learn the international been published in Esperanto. language Esperanto. The national Esperanto group in the United Esperanto at a glance States of America is the Esperanto League for Literature : Esperanto literature includes translated and original novels, short stories, plays, poems, scientific North America (ELNA). In Canada, the Cana- The A B C Cˆ D E F G Gˆ H Hˆ I J Jˆ works and dissertations. The library of the British Esper- ˆ ˘ dian Esperanto Association (CEA) performs the anto Association contains over 30,000 items. alphabet: K L M N O P R S S T U U V Z same tasks of providing information, assisting Every letter has only one sound and is always pro- local groups, organizing classes and annual UNESCO: The UEA has consultative relations with UNESCO. By the Resolution of December 10th, 1954, nounced. Accent is always on the next-to-last syllable. All are pronounced as in English except: conventions, and cooperating with the UEA. the General Conference of UNESCO recognized that For more information about books, records, the results achieved by Esperanto in intellectual ex- A as in “father” I as in “machine” membership, and classes, contact: changes and in bringing people together are in accor- C as “ts” in “bits” J as “y” in “yes” dance with the aims and ideals of UNESCO; that is, Cˆ as “ch” in “church” Jˆ as “s” in “measure” Esperanto League for North America, Inc. Esperanto contributes to international cooperation in E as in “get” O as in “mote” PO Box 1129, El Cerrito CA 94530 the fields of education, science, and culture. G as in “get” S as in “said” (800) ESPERANTO (automated infoline) Magazines: Various magazines and literary, scientific, Gˆ as “j” in “jet” Sˆ as “sh” in “shed” (510) 653-0998 (personal response) professional and religious reviews in Esperanto are H as in “hat” U as “oo” in “boot” A second language for everyone www.esperanto-usa.org published regularly in all parts of the world. Hˆ as “ch” in “loch” U˘ as “w” in “water” [email protected] Radio: Over a dozen radio stations, including stations Parts of speech are formed by adding endings to root In Canada, contact: in Peking, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Valencia, Warsaw, words. and Zagreb, regularly broadcast in Esperanto, for a total Canadian Esperanto Association is the noun ending adjectives end in of over fifteen hundred hours a year. Box 2159 O instruisto (teacher) nova (new) A Conventions and conferences : Every year an increasing Sidney, BC V8L 3S6 CANADA J is added to form plurals direct object adds N www.esperanto.ca/kea number of conventions, conferences, courses and study groups use Esperanto as their working language. In Inteligentaj personoj lernas la internacian lingvon. On the Internet, start with: 1983 about 12,000 people attended international meet- (Intelligent people learn the international language.) ings using Esperanto exclusively. Esperanto havas facilajn regulojn. Newsgroup: soc.culture.esperanto (Esperanto has easy rules.) Web site: www.esperanto-usa.org Esperanto organizations : The Universala Esperanto The ending of an adjective always agrees with the end- Asocio (World Esperanto Association) has members in ing of the noun that it modifies. over a hundred countries, and has 44 affiliated national organizations; 22 professional associations; and more Verb endings than 1250 clubs and societies in the world. Moreover, Infinitive Present Past Future Imperative Conditional Esperanto does not aim at replacing the existing 3,500 delegates and specialty delegates in all countries I AS IS OS U US national languages; but it overcomes the pre- are at the service of Esperantists. vidi vidas vidis vidos vidu vidus sent linguistic chaos by serving as a neutral to see sees saw will see see! would see method of international communication for all. Local groups: If you live in a large city, check your phone book for a nearby Esperanto association. These The ending is the same regardless of number or gender. groups can provide lessons, books, and practice ses- Adverbs end in E libere (freely) © 2003 ELNA. Lupoprodukto. 2003.02.25 sions. Many cities and regions have local groups.