1. Why did you learn Esperanto?

In a sense, I have never actually "learned" Esperanto, in that I am not fluent. I estimate that I can read about 90% of a text without use of a dictionary. As for why, I have long been interested in the idea of an international auxiliary language, and Esperanto was the first one I ever learned of (in 1961).

2. Do you use it regularly?

Not as such, although I login here to lernu three or four times a week and read posts in E-o. I also read articles about language issues written in E-o.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?

With whom? Essentially no one. For me personally, E-o (and any other constructed auxiliary language) is just a written code. I have never spoken it and what little I have heard spoken or sung I have understood little of. (My hearing is not the best even with my mother tongue.)

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?

It would be a good idea if many people could have a common language, although I do not expect that there will be a "universal" language in the foreseeable future. Anything to improve communication would be good, and I see advantages to a constructed international auxiliary language (conIAL). Of those few conIAL projects which have had much success at all, E-o is far out in the lead and therefore offers the most advantages at present, although there is actual, real use of Interlingua.

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?

If by "create" you allow one or two that already exist, then yes. ConIALs usually are simpler and easier for adults to learn than "natural" languages and therefore are more likely to come into widespread use. Also, in some vague sense, they are "fairer" than any one natural language.

However, it must be said that on the whole, people (at least after childhood) learn another language because it offers them something. (If nothing else, they may enjoy doing so as a hobby.) When it comes to international communication, people must think that the "something" they will gain will outweigh the effort of learning. That is why more people expend the effort to learn English than, say, Tibetan.

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?

No. Even as an educated speaker of (GenAm) English, I know that it is an extremely difficult language to master after childhood. Despite its near hegemony at present, there is an element of unfairness to English, apart from its complexity and abominable spelling. There are a few "simplified" Englishes, such as "Special English" and Jean-Paul Nerrière's Globish (which I think somewhat well of), but I am uncertain whether they can succeed. My preference is for a conIAL, but having been "around the field" for many years, I have never really seen any of them have any overwhelming success. That is why I can understand the attitudes of the Raŭmistoj, even if I do not completely share them.

1. Why did you learn Esperanto?
To say that I learned Esperanto since I had nothing better to do would be true, but the ideology behind it convinced to me actually learn it. The idea of being able to travel and stay with Esperanto speaking hosts (Pasporta Servo) is also extremely apealing. I should note, too, that 'learn' is not is the past tense for me as I'm still a relative beginner.

2. Do you use it regularly?
I don't speak it regularly due mainly to a lack of time as a full time student, but I read various discusions in the forums here as well as books, both online and in paper. When I have time off school, I tend to use it more often.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?
I speak Esperanto with members of my city's club (some of them may by 70+ years older than me, but I still have fun!). I've also used the language as a way to meet people while I'm travelling. It's great to arrive in a plaza, meet up with a couple of locals and leave an hour later with new friends.

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?
I'm with Zamenhof on the fact that a global language would help stop violence and other acts related to miscomprehention. I beleive that it is very important for this global language to be a second langauge as I am deeply saddened by the plethora of indigenous and minority languages that have already been lost due to the prioritization of colonial languages such as English.

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?
I think that Esperanto, with its vibrant and thriving community, is the best choice for an international language; much better than any national language at the very least. There are a few flaws with the language, which every new beginner on this site loves to propose changes to, and it's possible that were Esperanto's speakership to drastically increase, these issues would hinder its success.

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?
Given English's historical baggage as well as the difficulty of learning it, I don't beleive that it is well suited for a global language. As a native English speaker, who still can't quite spell properly, and who has taught a bit of ESL, I don't see how its international usage provides anything but grief and frustration to those trying to learn it as a second language. I've had 10 years of English classes (only 2 more left to go!!) and its my mother tongue and there's still a million grammar rules I don't understand and words I just can't spell. Likewise, pronouciation is key to being understood and not ridiculed, and English's pronouciation is extremely difficult to teach or learn in a classroom. I go to school in French and while my grammar is passible, my pronouciation is absolutely aweful, but both the teacher's and the other students' native language is English so there's no way to learn the correct pronounciation.

1. Why did you learn Esperanto?

It is a language for health.

2. Do you use it regularly?

Yes, via skype, emails and in social media like facebook and twitter. Almost daily.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?

Esperantists throughout the world

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?

Yes, Esperanto save cost and time for learning. It is good for the poor country.

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?

Esperanto is here for more than 125 years, why create another language ? If you meant the tribal language, yes, use Esperanto for intercommunication and protect the minority languages. The UNESCO recommended in 1954.

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?

Certainly NO, the decline of English language and its imperialism past is not the best choice.

According to the Telegraph in 2008, English will be Panglish in the coming 90 years or so.

If you agree that English will not have made people wiser in the financial postion.

Dr Ostler have mentioned that English is returning to the Babel, with the internet, more people are realising the right of language.

How difficult is English that you have to remember the 620 irregular verbs and it is almost 2000 words but just in 620 meaning however, by that amount of words, Esperanto can be constructed 10,000 words. How the learners can free themselves for that. Besides, the frequent change of English is not economical at all.

1. Why did you learn Esperanto?
I am trying to find out if it is possible to learn a language completely online.

2. Do you use it regularly?
No, don't have enough Esperanto to use it regularly.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?
My boyfriend is also learning Esperanto, so he is my language partner.

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?
Depends...

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?
Yes, then everyone starts at the same level. But who should be the designer?

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?
How do you define 'best'? It is one option.

1. Why did you learn Esperanto?

Honestly, I accidently stumbled over the Eo-article at wikipedia; surfed the internet a little bit about it - and doubted that it can be learnt that easily as often mentioned. But instead of doubting I decided to try; and - nun mi estas Esperantisto

2. Do you use it regularly?

Yes; allmost daily.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?

Mainly on community sites and blogs; like lernu.net.

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?

Absolutely. I could not imagine a reason, why global communication could possibly be a bad thing...

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?

Well, Eo in fact does already exist; it survived more than a century, it's usability is not only outstanding and joyful, but most imporantly yet proven.

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?

That depends on what 'best' means.

In terms of simplicity and learning speed, certainly not.

In terms of worldwide usage particularly in business: Currently yes, but there are even much bigger speaker communities (like hindi and chinese). Anyway language usage is allways a matter of political and economical power; regarding this, the forces most likely are subject to migrate to asia.

In terms of neutrality and equality? ...ehm... No - English is pretty much linked to the US culture (even more than the british I think); totally neglecting asia.

So long...

lobo

1. Why did you learn Esperanto?
I always had (and still have) the desire to be able to read and speak foreign languages, and after my extremely-joyful-yet-permanently-stalled efforts to learn Japanese, Esperanto beckoned me and I decided to give it a second try, having found it prior to my Japanese studies.

2. Do you use it regularly?
Yup, everyday, thanks to Lernu, Skype, and back then, Yahoo Messenger.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?
I use it to chat with my friends who also learned Esperanto, and I also read literature in it. I've also sent and received mail in it. I debated topics such as religion, philosophy and politics in it, and it felt great that E-o was able to handle such discussions.

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?
To me, a "global language" and an "international language" are two different things. A "global language" assumes the extinction/obsolencence of national languages, cultures and identity; and that's undesirable. On the other hand, an "international" language assumes that it does not aim to replace national languages and cultures and instead creates an bridge of understanding between the different nationalities; and that is something worth striving for, in my humble opinion.

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?
It's no longer an option. The prejudice against that proposal is very much deeper nowadays than it was during the early days of Volapuk and Esperanto.

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?
The existence of a website like engrish.com simply proves that English is not the best choice for either an international or a global language. People visit that website to mock, insult and laugh at those who did mistakes in the English language. That's the metamessage: know English perfectly or you'll become the laughing stock of the Anglosphere. Esperanto and Esperantists do not tolerate such attitudes: we all came to it under equal footing and thus should not mock or insult those who will come to it, given the common experience of learning it from scratch.

Many have already answered these questions and my answers wouldn't vary too much from what's already been said. But I wanted to comment on question # 6 because I hear far too often that others should "just learn English" so we could all communicate. This sentiment most often comes from native English speakers. I think that learning English must be a nightmare for the speakers of languages with more logical spelling and pronunciation. Consider the following sets of words: (soul/foul), (bead/bread), (war/far), (plain/plaid), (daughter/laughter), (even/seven),(fury/bury),(broad/road),(food/flood),(ginger/linger),(lost/post),(some/home),(low/how),(crevice/device),(hour/four),(form/worm),(roll/doll),(anger/danger),(tomb/bomb),(horse/worse),(lord/word), (steak/streak),(chore/chord),(monkey/donkey),(shave/have)...and I could go on for hours with more examples. I admire anyone who is born speaking another language and gains fluency in English. It certainly can't be easy!

Thank you to everyone who responded, they are all incredibly interesting and useful in their own way. My assignment is being written at the moment and I'm sure you'll be happy to know its going well.

The ideas behind Esperanto and the language itself are a delight to write about, however I feel like I've only scratched the surface. As a result I am seriously considering learning it (perhaps after my studies when I have more time).

Thanks again

1. Why did you learn Esperanto?

I was young (late 1970). I found a handbook of this language (my father was esperantist too) and I started learning. After a year I grasped the language.

2. Do you use it regularly?

Yes. Each and every single day.

3. How do you use Esperanto and with who?

I read, write, translate...

4. Do you think there should be a global language that everyone speaks and understands?

I wonder why there still isn't one.

5. Do you think it is better to create a common language than to use one that already exists?

Why invent the wheel again. There is ripe Esperanto ready to be used.

6. Is English the best choice for a global language?

Thousand times NO. English is fine for enthusiasts of the language and burden for the rest.