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The article 'La' in fluent speech?

by BelajPensoj, March 28, 2012

Messages: 5

Language: English

BelajPensoj (User's profile) March 28, 2012, 3:51:20 AM

Please forgive me if this is asked often, but when speaking fluent Esperanto, is it acceptable to merge 'La' into the word? For example: l'amor, l'ananas, la'ananas, la'amor, la'oro, l'oro; etc...
Or does there have to be a distinction between the words, must they be pronounced clearly? I know that poetry in Esperanto uses this, but is okay to basically combine the words? Sorry if this is a silly question, I'm just starting to learn Esperanto again so I've forgotten most everything.

RiotNrrd (User's profile) March 28, 2012, 4:10:14 AM

It is only considered proper in poetry. It should not be used in ordinary speech/writing.

I think being able to combine "la" with the following word, and also being able to drop final -o's, were both incorporated purely to help manage syllable counts in lines of verse. Poetry was a definite focus of many Esperantists in the early days.

BelajPensoj (User's profile) March 28, 2012, 4:25:34 AM

Okay, thank you!

darkweasel (User's profile) March 28, 2012, 5:12:01 AM

According to the Fundamento, it’s ok after a preposition that ends with a vowel: de l’, je l’, ĉe l’ etc.

However, poetry does not always follow this rule.

In the first days, this was also used in prose, not only in poetry, but today it is true that it’s mainly for poetry.

erinja (User's profile) March 28, 2012, 10:55:35 AM

Please note that "amoro" means having sex in Esperanto (from amori, to have sex) - love is "amo"

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