What do you think about international auxiliary languages?

Question

These languages are planned to be really easy to learn and have regular grammar. They are designed to be a second language for everybody, so nobody has an advantage, and they won't kill natural languages off.

Answer 1

I think it's a good idea. That way, there's no excuse for everyone NOT to learn a language ^_^ (I think everyone should know at least 2 languages fluently)
Then again, with learning a language you still have to be willing to put in the effort and time into learning it. Like everything else, language needs to be learnt, you can't just become fluent overnight. So even though these languages are 'easier' to learn compared to other complex ones, it might still put people off in even beginning to learn the language in the first place.
You should keep in mind that people in general are lazy by nature ^_^

Answer 2

I think it's a fantastic idea. Cultural imperialism is a problem, but even more important is efficiency in my opinion. In China students learn English for over 10 years through school and then come and study at my university, and their English ability is still not that good. They could reach that same level of competence in a few months with a logical consistent auxiliary language like Esperanto.

Answer 3

Of the multitude of international languages, few have had the impact that Esperanto has.
Esperanto is the strongest contender as the primary international auxiliary language. In numerous studies conducted over the last century, it has been demonstrated that first mastering Esperanto can lessen significantly the amount of instruction required for a third or forth language, because it clearly demonstrated linguistic theory that is useful in understanding languages. The link below provides details on this phenomena.
Now one could say that the same effect would happen with almost any language, and I believe they are correct. So if you are in a position to learn any language, and hope to use it to vault into a third language, then by all means do so.
The only real benefit that Esperanto has over the other tongues in this case is its ease of absorption, and its clear demonstration of linguistic principles. Since it is largely (but not completely) constructed on the romance languages, Latin plays a significant role here.

I frequently make this next statement, and I live by it.

"If you can't learn Esperanto, you can't learn any language."

At the very least, if you learn Esperanto, which by the way can lead to the enjoyment of meeting new friends and traveling to new places, you'll at least have that under your belt regardless of how far you decide to take any other languages.
It's not uncommon for a student of Esperanto to become fluent inside of a month, maybe less, if you've the desire.

The most depressing aspect of dealing with Esperanto is the constant unsupported claims that it has no value. As with anything else, it's use is dependant on how you decide to use it. With over 2,000,000 speakers in the world, there aren't too many places where you won't find it, you just need to look. The internet is the best place to start. The sites below are the best intitial places to investigate the language and it's history. (Yes, it has a history (119 years) and a culture.)

Where Esperanto stands to make its biggest success is in international communications, primarily at the UN and EU, where each respectively spends in excess of $500 million USD annually on translation services alone.

The only detriment to date of achieving working language status in the UN has come from the French in the 30's and the American's in the 50's who each in turn objected to Esperanto because it would have kept those nations from enjoying the bennefits of having it's language as the primary world tongue.
The possibility of an even handed approach to international relations has never been viewed as a benefit of the party that holds the advantage.

The World Esperanto Association (in Esperanto UEA: Universala Esperanto-Asocio) is the largest international organization of Esperanto speakers, with members in 119 countries (as of 2000) and in official relations with the United Nations and UNESCO. In addition to individual members, 95 national Esperanto organizations are affiliated to UEA.

Research and make your own conclusions.

Ĝis!

Edit
Please tell me that it's a computer glitch and that Tine didn't write that Esperanto is harder than English?
Un-be-lievable!

Answer 4

In europe, we've got Esperanto. Oh, it's so hard. I do hope we won't ever have to learn it... I think the easiest way to communicate would be that everybody has to learn English because I think it's much easier than Esperanto. Plus, nearly everyone in Europe already speaks English...