Does anyone here speak or understand Esperanto? Of those who don't would you be willing to learn it....?

Question

....as a second or third language? Or perhaps become a convert completely and make it your primary language? Now there's a challenging thought! Not that I'm looking for converts. I have enough trouble with my native language. Just curious here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

Answer 1

Yes, there are many of us out here who speak Esperanto. I began learning the language in 2000, could hold simple but meaningful conversations within 2 months, and was fluent within 2 years (and I'm pretty slow with languages). As a matter of fact, I am attending the annual Tut-Teksasa-Kunveno (All Texas Convention of Esperantists) tommorrow in Hurst, Texas.

There is a world-wide Esperantist organization (UEA - Universala Esperanto-Asocio) and there are also yearly conventions of Esperanto Speakers from all over the world as well as annual conventions for just about every country on earth. This year's U.S. annual convention was held in New York City. Last year's was in Austin, Texas, next year's will be in San Diego, California.

Since Esperanto is a constructed language (I don't agree with the term "artificial", there is nothing in the language that is artificial, everything in the language was taken from other European languages, a more accurate description would be a constructed All-European pidgin language) and is not the national language of any country, there is no way to know exactly how many people speak it. We know some facts, there are more than 200,000 speakers in the world (the number of people who are members of Esperanto clubs in the world), and we know that there are many more people who speak the language who are not club members. I ran into a man in an Esperanto Chat room last week who lives in California, but is not a member of ELNA or UEA. Most Esperantists accept the approximation of 2 Million esperantists in the world.

There are also a few hundred Denaskaj Esperantistoj (From-Birth Esperantists) or people who's families spoke Esperanto at home, so it is their "native" language. They are usually couples who met via Esperanto, but with different native languages, so in their homes they speak Esperanto as the family language. I know one family (Mom, Dad, and three children) in New York who speak Esperanto at home, and their children are in this catagory.

The websites for the US National organization is:

http://www.esperanto-usa.org

the website for the UEA is:

http://www.uea.org

Hope this helps.

Ron

P.S. To the person who asked for a site to learn Esperanto. Try: http://www.lernu.org/

Answer 2

Although I love languages, I have little interest in learning Esperanto. It doesn't strike me as an interesting language, the number of speakers isn't very high, it hasn't been adopted by any major international organization, and seems to have value mostly as a novelty. It's true that it can bring together people from many different cultures and countries, but there are other ways of accomplishing that goal that appeal to me more. The one thing I do like about Esperanto is that because it's not anyone's native language, it's like of like a handshake; neither party has an advantage. Other than that, even though I imagine I could learn the language with little effort, I see little benefit to doing so. I've had several Esperantists try to change my mind, but I'm not convinced yet.

Answer 3

>Although I do not see the factor in adjectives agreeing with >the noun case and quantity All "traditional" languages have plenty of matters that are not quintessential, and different matters that persons (natives or no longer) consider that are not quintessential. There is not any factor in losing a while criticizing a language. You must gain knowledge of it the best way it's. You can't difference it. Esperanto does not have that many "needless" matters. Because this can be a dependent language, good proposal and proven, matters are there due to the fact that they're wanted. Esperanto is an convenient to gain knowledge of language, due to the fact that you'll begin to make use of it in a small fraction of the time had to begin utilizing different languages. But the entire languages are specific, and you'll want a few willpower and awareness to gain knowledge of the workings of the language. Congratulations for finding out 360 Spanish-verb-endings! (consistent verbs best) In Esperanto you'll must gain knowledge of 6 endings, and there are not any abnormal verbs. Learning Esperanto in the course of 10 or 15 hours will enable you to converse with persons from such a lot international locations. 50 - one hundred hours must be sufficient to get a few fluency. I were utilizing Esperanto in the course of greater than 50 years. I found out it in August 1959. I desire that you'll begin utilizing it after a couple of weeks. Esperanto may even support you together with your learning of Spanish and French. Esperanto may even enable you to touch persons that talk Spanish or French, so as to be very completely happy to support you gain knowledge of their languages. .

Answer 4

I would love learning this language. I myself love learning langauges and learn something that was created to benefit mankind, although unsuccessful, would be interesting. I read a few articles and I can understand very little (I have knowledge of Spanish and French). There just wasn't much opprtunity to leanr it for me.

I once read some where that the EU was considering adopting a conlang for easier communication. If this happens, I won't hesitate at all to leanr this language.

Imagine -- two people from different points from the earth and meet and speak to each over a langauge created to do just that: connect the world.

Can anyone post a free site that would help with proficientcy in Esperanto?

Answer 5

Esperanto is now enjoying a renassaince, thanks in part to the Internet and to the trend toward globalized societies. Its time has finally come!
No longer the hobby of a few enthusiasts with a passion for languages, Esperanto has proven to be a valuable tool in many fields, including science and technology.
As a professional translator, I use Esperanto as a bridge between unusual language pairs.
I am also the (paid) coordinator of an Esperanto Kids Club in California. Kids love its logical structure!
As you can see, my small time investment to learn it last year is paying handsome dividends. Plus, I have friends around the world who are as welcome in my home as I am in theirs!
Amike Via,
Mar Kardenas
www.grupoamikema.org

Answer 6

I use it as a second language. Hoping it catches on everywhere. I really like Esperanto. Its not too hard to learn and I can say things out loud but no one knows what I'm saying.

Answer 7

English has become such Universal language that I see no reason in learning Esperanto. If anyone is interested in devoting time to learn a new language I would recomend Chinese or Japanese...those are the alternative languages of the future.

Answer 8

can't speak nor understand, but I'm trying to learn.
anyone know of a downloadable self-teach software out there?
I've tried Kurso de Esperanto 3.2.
I want Esperanto to be my quaternary language.
Cebuano>English>Tagalog>Esperanto

@JewishGirl - ah dankon!

Answer 9

i learned it once, from "teach yourself esperanto" but its been so long i forgot most of it

person above me, did you try the lernu website? lernu.com, or .org, or .net etc

Answer 10

Nope don't speak it , but I sure would learn it as a second language.