Esperanto is a language created over 100 years ago designed to be an easy to master second language for the world. E.g. 'La suno brillas' means 'the sun is shining'. The vocabulary is taken from the main European languages and the grammar is virtually non-existent.
Despite a varying amount of popular support, it has never been endorsed by any government. My question is that were this question put to the public, how many people would vote to add Esperanto to the curriculum of schools around the world?
2007-02-16 03:27:33 · 6 answers · asked by leonardjos 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I already have. I started learning Esperanto in 2000 just as an experiment to see if i could learn a second language at the age of 40.
Esperanto was not invented to replace anyone's language, it was created to be an easy to learn second language for the world. Knowing Esperanto doesn't stop anyone from learning more languages, as a matter of fact, everyone I know who speaks Esperanto, also speaks at least two other languages. Many people like me are finding it on the Internet, and it strikes a chord within the hearts of the most intelligent and open-minded.
When I learned Esperanto I was very surprised to find that:
1. it doesn't sound artificial like other constructed languages because every concept and construct was taken from another European language.
2. It's not a dead language, as I first assumed, but a living and thriving language. The language is constantly evolving and changing (computer = komputilo or komputero, there is a debate about which word is best and the Esperanto community is still waiting to see which word will win out.)
3. It has a growing and vibrant, international community, large body of literature and music, and even a few movies. A new one was released this year in Brazil called "Gerda Malaperis", it's a based on a detective novel by the same name.
4. There are native Esperanto speakers. They are usually children who are born to Esperantists from different cultures, who meet through Esperanto and for whom the International Language is their common language, and therefore their home language, and their children grow up speaking the language as their first.
5. The most amazing thing I learned about Esperanto was when I learned about the international guest service, Pasporta Servo (Passport Service). If you learn Esperanto, purchase the book, a new one comes out each year and is available for just a few dollars, hosts from all over the world will open the doors of their homes to you usually free of charge, and you'll make friends in many countries. http://www.tejo.org/ps/ps_lingv/ps_en.htm
Learning Esperanto opened the world to me. I've corresponded with more people in more countries than I ever thought was possible before I learned it. And I know more about the English language than I did before I started learning Esperanto too. Things they tried to teach me in High School and College English classes suddenly became clear once I had a second language to see the comparisons. I wish, as you said, all schools would teach Esperanto to children in the early grades, I think it would open the world to them also, so yes, I would vote for it. As a matter of fact, I know and admire two teachers who are teaching Esperanto to children in schools. I intend to teach it to my grandchildren.
I recommend Esperanto to everyone. The language, the international community and the dream, a world united through communication in a common neutral language.
Vivu Esperanton!
2007-02-16 14:13:12 · answer #1 · answered by rbwtexan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would! I love the simplicity of this language, plus the fact that the words are very similar to Romance Languages vocabulary.
Mi amas Esperanton!
2007-02-16 11:31:41 · answer #2 · answered by Rowdy Andy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not. We have enough real languages to learn, why go to the work of learning an artificially invented language? I don't think it is a language of the heart for anybody.
By the way, I love learning languages. I speak four fluently, and a treat for me would be to take an immersion course in a couple more.
2007-02-16 11:32:19 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i wouldn't. the human mind is capable of learning many, many languages.
with that said, Swahili developed as a way for Arabic and various African traders to be able to communicate with each other. and there are a few other languages like that. but it would have to be a fluid occurrence, not something just made up and taught
2007-02-16 11:34:04 · answer #4 · answered by smm 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
esperanto is stupid and fake... a language borns and transforms naturally! you can't create a dead one
it's so beautiful having so many different languages!
the world has english to comunicate
everyone is proud of their language, and that's right!
furthermore, languages are uncontrollable... they have their own life
2007-02-16 11:39:10 · answer #5 · answered by chiara 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't b/c it is too much brain power to think and say the words. Ha,ha.
2007-02-16 11:36:27 · answer #6 · answered by Samantha Thompson 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋