Introduced in 1887 by Ludwik Zamenhof, Esperanto is the world’s most widely spoken constructed language. It’s hard to say exactly how many people speak Esperanto but statistics say that there are up to two million of Esperantist, who use the language regularly. The figure might not be impressive, especially when compared to most of national languages. Yet, still it’s worth knowing at least some facts about Esperanto, because its origins are in Poland. Moreover, studies show that teaching Esperanto in kindergarten helps children in learning other languages later on. See the four minutes footage:
The intention.
Zamenhof’s purpose was to create a language that could be an international base for communication between nations. He claimed that most conflicts stem from misunderstanding. Usually when we talk in a foreign language to one of its native, we feel the so called language barrier. Sometimes the native can look down on us. To overcome that imbalance we could choose a language that is foreign to both parties, but what language should it be? National languages are usually difficult and complicated. Therefore, Zamenhof decided to create a completely new language, that no nation could claim rights to, is easy to learn and at the same time precise enough so it doesn’t lead to problems with comprehension.
Esperanto is designed to be easy.
How easy it is? Let’s see…
- Vi legas precize tiel, kiel vi skirbas! - Everything is phonetic!
There are 28 letters in the Esperanto language. When you learn how each of them should sound, you can pronounce every word perfectly!
source: own elaboration
http://prezi.com/1jzjrghpuj9u/esperanto-la-dua-lingvo-por-ciu/
http://prezi.com/1jzjrghpuj9u/esperanto-la-dua-lingvo-por-ciu/
- No exceptions!
Esperanto is an extremely regular language and there are literally no exceptions - hurray! Moreover, you don’t have to hit the books for hours to cram vocabulary, because you can easily construct them!
There are 10 prefixes and 29 inflixes which help you to build new words from one root.
source: own elaboration
http://prezi.com/1jzjrghpuj9u/esperanto-la-dua-lingvo-por-ciu/
http://prezi.com/1jzjrghpuj9u/esperanto-la-dua-lingvo-por-ciu/
source: own elaboration
http://prezi.com/1jzjrghpuj9u/esperanto-la-dua-lingvo-por-ciu/
http://prezi.com/1jzjrghpuj9u/esperanto-la-dua-lingvo-por-ciu/
When you take any bilingual dictionary, the esperanto part is usually three times thinner because it contains only word roots!
- Flexability
Languages have their own specific words sequence in sentences. Most of these patterns, if not all, can be applied to Esperanto.
Let’s take a sentence:
He put a mouse in the shoe.
An Esperantist could describe the mouse’s plight by saying:
Li metis nuson en la suon.
or shorter and using word formation:
Li enŝuigis nuson.
The word enŝuigis means “inshoed” :)
In the below example the root trajn (English: train) is used as a noun, a verb and an adverb:
source: own elaboration
- no gender
Nouns have no gender, however, to preserve the flexibility, they have two cases: nominative and accusative…
- Verbs don’t conjugate:
source: own elaboration
- There are 3 tenses and 3 aspects…
… which make 6 possible endings for any verb form.
source: own elaboration
- vocabulary based on Germanic, Slavic, Latin languages…
… some of which are already familiar to us :)
source: own elaboration
I have presented above around more or less 90% of Esperanto grammar - it’s short and sweet, isn’t?
Speakers
There are no official statistics of how many people speak Esperanto. However, according to lernu.net - the biggest learning portal of Esperanto - there might even be 10,000,000 people who can speak that language at least to some extent. Of course, to retain language skills you have to keep using them. As I stated before, there are up to two million regular users of Esperanto. The figure includes around two thousand… natives. Yes, there are natives of Esperanto - people for whom Esperanto is their first language. On the one hand, it is, let say a breach of Zamenhof’s intention, but on the other hand, it shows that it’s not just “a fake language”. Esperanto is a living language and as any other language it is still changing. There are couples that met during Esperantio conventions, started a family and decided to use the language at home. Below you can watch some footage created by one of such family:
Besides big Esperanto conventions, there are a few radio stations, books and magazines in the language. One of the most active communities of Esperanto in the world is in Warsaw, they even have their own internet radio: http://www.podkasto.net/
If you want, to find out more about Esperanto, you can start from www.lernu.net but for those who remember BBC’s language course “Muzzy in Gondoland” I recommend its Esperanto version :)
Questions:
- Do you think that teaching Esperanto at kindergartens or primary schools could really help children to learn other languages?
- Isn’t a designed language just a waste of time?
- Do you find Esperanto as much worth learning as a national language?
- Do you agree that most conflicts are caused by lack of understanding? Would a common language help in preventing from wars?
- Do you think that one of national languages should be a worldwide language? How about English, or the so called Globish English?
- In your opinion, is a language only a tool of communication or is it something more?
- Would you like to try to speak Esperanto? Why yes/why not?
Oh gosh, you ask difficult questions, my friend....
ReplyDeleteSo, I think that most misunderstandings are not only on language level, but also cultural level. And that one is very difficult to avoid.
I think it's a fantastic idea to teach kids Esperanto as they are little, as much as any other language. Why not?
I don't think esperanto is a waste of time. You may say, that gaming is a waste of time, but learning another language is never one :)
GAMING IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME, OK?
ReplyDelete:D
But coming back to Esperanto - I agree with Wanda, that misunderstandings often comes from misinterpreting cultural behaviours or intolerance for any differences. However, making up a language which no-one claims as its own seems to be a great idea. There's just one thing - I don't really know is there any real of use of this language in the world. One may accidentaly stumble upon other esperantist, but it won't help in everyday life that much. Children should learn English first, and then whatever - it may be Esperanto, but may as well be Spanish or Chinese.
@Martyna, I can assure you that if you cry out "Saluton!" in Białystok or near Zamenhof Street in Warsaw, you will hear an answer :) Unfortunately, Esperanto is not popular in Europe. Currently it is said that most of Esperantis are in Asian countries. That's because the language is much easier to learn for them than for example English.
ReplyDeleteIn the first YouTube video from the post, it said that children who was thought Espereanto even for a short period of time have better results in learning other foreign languages. I know for my experience that grammar, pronunciation and writing can be learnt in less than two weeks. Vocabulary takes a little bit more time, but thanks to it's regularity much less than English vocabulary.
Well, the truth is that learning ANY language is good for kids if they want to learn any new language later on in their life, so it's not an argument for Eperanto. You might as well learn Chinese and at least that'd be very useful for your private life as well as your career.
ReplyDeleteI believe that artificial languages like this are pointless at this point. They are not opening any doors for you. They are not enabling you to communicate people you couldn't have communicated with without them. It's much better to learn any "real", modern language. Especially if it's international.
Realistically, learning a language takes time - you invest a lot of it in the process. At least choose the investments wisely.
I have no idea how teaching Esperanto could help children to learn other languages maybe it is some way, maybe not. Designed language would have sense when huge enough number of people use it. For me it would be pointless if I had to learn new language that is being used by few people in my city (and those people know some other well known language like English). Using common language can improve feeling that we are part of some bigger group but I don't think that it could prevent conflicts. English is already the tool that helps us in communication in most places over the world. Language is part of the culture and something that we use as "voice in our minds during thinking about something. To answer the last question - No. I wouldn't. I have special skills that gives me huge advice in not learning languages. Taking another (almost useless) language now would be painful.
ReplyDelete@yoshi, some studies claim that Esperanto might help those people who don't believe they could ever learn any foreign language because they don't have "the skill". Esperanto is easy enough and can build their courage to try other languages. It's mostly psychological help, I guess...
ReplyDeleteI think that we all think about international language from European perspective. I heard that Asians have more problems with learning English from us. Esperanto is currently the most popular in Asian regions. However, I agree that from our point of view it doesn't change anything...
I think Esperanto might have been a nice idea. Even J.R.R. Tolkien said once:
"My advice to all who have the time or inclination to concern themselves with the international language movement would be: 'Back Esperanto loyally.'"
At the same time he explained why he though Esperanto was a failure:
"Volapuk, Esperanto, Ido, Novial, &c &c are dead, far deader than ancient unused languages, because their authors never invented any Esperanto legends..."
And unfortunately I must agree with that statement...
Learning Espernato will surely help you learn other languages, will help you shine in a conversation with linguistic freaks and let you communicate with a tiny percent of people but is it really worth trying? It is true that the language has a simplified phonetic and grammar but in my opinion it has none economical or sociocultural background. You should rather learn some living language - maybe it's a bit more complicated but a lot more practical. The idea of teaching Esperanto in kindergaden seems good - it's easier to learn other languages when you already knew one. But the question is - why not any other language? I don't see how one artificial language could be better than language formed naturally over the centuries.
ReplyDeleteIt is said Esperanto can help you communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers. But nevertheless the cultural obstacles will exist as a result of some cultural and social processes. Esperanto doesn't represent a specific cultural heritage. Some people want to learn languages mostly to gain access to another culture. In this case they get more or less nothing.
For me it's truly difficult to imagine a sense in which Esperanto has somehow transformed into a living language while other have not. You don't have enough books, movies, articles, websites in Esperanto. A stranger on the street won't ask you "I'm sorry do you speak Esperanto?". Simply - learn it if you have a lot of time but otherwise try something more practical.
Do you think that teaching Esperanto at kindergartens or primary schools could really help children to learn other languages?
ReplyDeleteIt is gues that it is possible since esperanto is a mixture of few common languages. Knowing Esperanto language its like knowing some bits of different languages.
Isn’t a designed language just a waste of time?
I think nothing of value is a waste of time. The more we learn better we get. I am relating to brain stimulation.
Do you find Esperanto as much worth learning as a national language?
National language is the most important language for people who never wish to travel. Esperanto is still not as popular as other languages that's why we can not really on it in everyday life or in business.
Do you agree that most conflicts are caused by lack of understanding? Would a common language help in preventing from wars?
If we can call second world war a lack of understanding then yes... However difference in communication where not a reason for the war. I would say it more about mentality of society rather than language difference.
Do you think that one of national languages should be a worldwide language? How about English, or the so called Globish English?
English already is a global language. Therefor we should not make any changes to it status.
In your opinion, is a language only a tool of communication or is it something more?
Language is used for communication but it also gives a feel of community and social area.
Would you like to try to speak Esperanto? Why yes/why not?
No.. I am too old for that. Maybe if i would have a kid I would let him learn Esperanto. Because I believe it would stimulate his process of learning other languages. If I had to choose I would never change English or German in favour of Esperanto.
I think that teaching any language at kindergarten is a great thing. The younger you are the easier it is to learn new things as your brain absorbs everything much quicker. I don’t know anybody personally that speaks Esperanto so it’s hard for me to say how hard or easy it is to learn, however it seems, at least in theory that it might be really useful as a base for learning other languages. I don’t think that most conflicts are based on the lack of understanding ounces language as its more in the culture and not just the words. It would be easier if everybody spoke English however that would in no way prevent from wars. And yes I would like to learn the basics of Esperanto but more out of curiosity then anything else as it’s not too useful for everyday communication.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the teaching of Esperanto in kindergartens or primary schools would cause terrible confusion in the minds of such small children. I think that the teaching of Esperanto would not help to learn other languages could harm the contrary.
ReplyDeleteConflicts are not caused by a lack of understanding, but in other views. A common language would not prevent wars, because each nation has different views, believe in other gods. Each nation is totally different and it is a major factor in wars. not only a communication tool but also something that connects citizens of the country.
I think that would be an interesting experience to try Esperanto happy to have met the language.
I do not know why learning Esperanto was to be mandatory? I think that English is sufficiently widespread and more and more people uses it. Another language that is theoretically neutral would be a big problem. English is the foundation so it must be as a school subject, we have a national language, and the third Esperanto? I think too much. Pays more attention to English and that's enough.
ReplyDeleteBesides Esperanto already had their chance for success
@Czarnolecki (sorry, I don't know your name), why did you write that Esperanto was mandatory?
ReplyDeleteEnglish might be a foundation in Europe, but I doubt it is in for example South America.
Interesting subject I have never heard of Esperanto:P
ReplyDeleteI think it actually can hlep children learn new languages, because it is so easy it could be some kind of introduction to learnig forean languages. On the other hand maybe it is better to learn more useful languages from the beggining…
I think it should be considered as a form of fun, learning is never a waste of time.
As I mentioned earlier I think that learning Esperanto is not so valuable as learning other "real" languages but can be helpful.
I am convinced that there should be one global language and I am glad that it is eanglish, but at the same time we should not forget to develop our native language.
Most importantly language is a way of communication but it can be some much more - let's take poetry as an example. Learning new language can also keep your brain in a good shape .
I think I could try to learn Esperanto some day, not for real but for pleasure:)
@Simon S - I totally agree with you - learning any language stimulates you/kids and is good and helpful
Learning kid's in kindergarden other language can be wrong, and made a lot of problems. Some kids have problems with learn 1 language, what about 2 or more.. First parent's should go to psychologist to check if their children can or should learn another language. I was one of this children, and i can't learn english before 3-rd class in primary school.
ReplyDeleteHey There, I really don´t know wheter you are still on this blog. But if you are I would like to use your photography in a presentation in school. I think it´s well designed and it explains a lot. Of course your name will be mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance
Johannes