Why would anyone want to learn Esperanto? And who would you speak it to?

Answer 1

I am an Idist, that's a follower of Ido, an artificial language based on Esperanto. I think learning this kind of languages is good because it gives you the principles of all natural languages. I mean, you come across verbal conjugation, plural forms, and more complex things like how different parts of speech articulate (adverbs modify adjectives, adjectives modify nouns...) The advantage of artificial languages is that they have no exceptions, or irregular forms. So you get to understand the principles more easily.

And as for who you could use them with, there are forums all over the internet. And there are periodical gatherings with people who practise the same language. It's a really rewarding experience.

Answer 2

People of all sorts learn to speak Esperanto. Some are idealists working to promote the essentially political goal of making Esperanto the agreed language for international relations. UNESCO has recommended international organisations should explore its possibilities.

Other people are pragmatists simply enjoying the benefits of cultural insight, international friendship and travel, which come from taking part in an intimate, worldwide community. They may hope that the European Union (for instance) would make a more serious effort to explore the use of Esperanto, but they do not stop and wait.
(It would save the EU at least € 25 billion annually!
http://lingvo.org/grin/GRIN_en.pdf )

Some join a local club where they make new friends, practise the language, take courses, explore literature and music, play games and go on excursions. Some people are just curious about languages. Esperanto is a very creative language, free from the many restrictions of spelling, grammatical irregularity and fixed conventions of usage, which circumscribe other languages.

Others just enjoy being equal members in an international community which is independent of national language or culture, religion or race. They regard themselves as citizens of the world in a new and liberated way. They enjoy speaking Esperanto so much they want to celebrate and share their new liberty, their new world status.

People have all sorts of reasons for learning to speak Esperanto.


"Several research studies demonstrate that studying Esperanto before another foreign language speeds and improves learning the other language."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaedeutic_value_of_Esperanto


More info in http://www.2-2.se

Answer 3

Esperanto is a blend of many different languages. It was invented by Polish scientist when nobody imagined that English would rule the world;) It was to make life and communication easier for everyone.
Nowadays, there are some enthusiast, but... U know how it is... Language is marked by the culture, the character, habits and many other things - it expresses the soul of a nation, community, of feelings... The literature of a certain country written in a certain language sometimes is hard to be translated because of the differences. Esperanto does not have a soul - it is created. But there are people who not only try to translate literature into Esperanto, but also want to create poems etc in that language. For me - that's pointless...

Answer 4

I studied Esperanto a few years ago. Let me save you the trouble of learning it. There are a few people worldwide that you can speak it to, but they're not worth the effort you have to put in.

Answer 5

I have some contacts on my MSN list.
Why are you interested on that?

To say something else: Esperanto has no soul, right? Because it is artificial, right? some times I wonder how some people can get to such deep conclusions.

Answer 6

it's completely useless