Esperanto: The Talk of the World

By Armin Donels

Esperanto's roots are drawn principally from the world's largest language family, the Indo-European, for maximum familiarity to the maximum number of people. International words are fully utilized. Esperanto is spelled phonetically, and the rules of Esperanto grammar are simple to learn and use. Words are built by the systematic use of prefixes and suffixes, resulting in a remarkably precise and expressive language. Because of all this, "Inteligenta persono lernas Esperanton rapide." (An intelligent person learns Esperanto rapidly.)

Hundreds of thousands of people already use Esperanto for business and intellectual purposes and for social contacts through correspondence and travel. Speakers of Esperanto have access to a number of international special-interest organizations and to an international network of local representatives.

Significantly, Esperanto is not the language of any bloc or ideology. It is found in many countries in both East and West and its political neutrality makes it potentially acceptable as a second language where national languages are not. As a universal language, Esperanto stands ready to solve increasingly burdensome translating and interpreting problems at international meetings and in satellite communications.

Many literary and some technical works are available in Esperanto translations, and there is a considerable and growing original literature in the international language. In addition, Esperanto periodicals are published in a large number of countries.

UNESCO has recognized that Esperanto facilitates international contacts among groups and individuals, and thus furthers UNESCO's own cultural and educational aims. The Universal Esperanto Association, world headquarters for the international language, has a cooperative and consultative relation with UNESCO.

In recent years, approximately 10,000 people from 55 countries have participated each year in international conferences where Esperanto has been the working language. These people are able to communicate with each other directly, without interpreters or linguistic embarrassment. For these people, the language barrier is destroyed and the possibility of understanding and cooperation is increased.

For free details about books, courses, teaching aids, phonograph records, tapes, or general information about the language write to: Esperanto League of North America, Inc., P.O. Box 1129, El Cerrito, CA 94530; or call: (800) 828-5944.

89-year-old Armin F. Doneis is a delegate of Universala Esperanto-Asocio.