Twice before, esperanto was suggested as an official language in the UN. The first time the french killed it because at the time they were considered the international language of diplomacy. The second time the Americans killed it because english was starting to assume that role. Since Esperanto holds observer status, it must happen eventually, so how long? Or will it ever?
2006-11-30 13:24:24 · 6 answers · asked by Jagg 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Esperanto already holds observer status at the UN (Class B). UNESCO, UNICEF to name a few.
The overall savings would be dramatic, since translation services at the UN spend about $100 million USD PER OFFICAL LANGUAGE, of which there are 6, not 5. English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic.
So again, when?
Those who decry its value and current use have not done their homework.
Try these sites for some insight on how much is spent and what the life of a UN translater are like:
www.translationdirectory.com/article807.htm
utilika.org/pubs/etc/pool-eal.txt
www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4044
If you actually research it, you would probaly change your mind.
There is some excellent research on peoples reluctance to explore the lanaguage also.
2006-12-01 07:09:13 · update #1
Like anything else to do with politics, it's a matter of a constituency for something being of sufficient size to push it through. Unfortunately for Esperanto, it lacks a "natural constituency" in terms of some geographic area with large numbers of native speakers. The UN is only going to adopt languages in recognition of how many speakers they already have. It is not going to adopt a language with a small number of speakers for purpose of deliberately "promoting" it... no matter how good the intentions are behind that language.
At the same time though, I would take issue with other people saying that Esperanto "isn't a real language" and that it "never caught on". Esperanto is used people from over a hundred countries to communicate... it may be a constructed language, but it's still a "real language" any way you want to look at it. It has also survived and thrived for over a hundred years... even if it hasn't lived up to lofty aspirations of everyone on the planet using the language, you certainly can't say that it "hasn't caught on".
Linux is used on less that 1% of the world's computers, yet it has been a great benefit and use to a thriving community of worldwide computer users. Is Linux "not a real operating system", or "hasn't caught on", just because it probably won't live up to unreasonable expectations of everyone giving up Microsoft Windows?
2006-11-30 14:46:19 · answer #1 · answered by Steve 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it ever will, I agree with everything Steve said. However, I still think, for different (economic) reasons, it still has a shot in the E.U. The U.N. has capped the number of official languages at 5. But the E.U.'s bylaws gives equal status to the official language of every member nation. If all European countries eventually join the E.U. it's my understanding that will be 28 languages. It will eventually make economic sense for them to choose an international language to be the main interlanguage of the E.U. Otherwise the cost of communication within the E.U. will become cost prohibitive.
2006-11-30 15:15:48 · answer #2 · answered by rbwtexan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i do no longer think of it ever will, I consider each and every thing Steve suggested. although, I nonetheless think of, for various (financial) motives, it nonetheless has a shot in the E.U. The U.N. has capped the variety of stable languages at 5. however the E.U.'s bylaws provides equivalent status to the stable language of each and every member u . s . a .. If all eu worldwide places at last connect the E.U. it particularly is my information which would be 28 languages. it particularly is going to at last make financial experience for them to choose on a worldwide language to be the substantial interlanguage of the E.U. in any different case the value of communique in the E.U. will exchange into value prohibitive.
2016-10-04 14:12:09 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ne'er gonna happen!
A made up language with only a few hundred thousand speakers --- Pig Latin would be a better choice!
Esperanto is definitely a dying experiment.
It's not even very international - it's just a Euro-hodge-podge.
2006-11-30 19:19:37 · answer #4 · answered by evaniax 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Since Esperanto is not a real language, it is doubtful if this will ever happen.
2006-11-30 13:27:48 · answer #5 · answered by Sanmigsean 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
never probably..it was a unique social experiment but it never really caught on
2006-11-30 13:26:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋