I noticed that Esperanto speakers typically have a "build it and they will come" attitude, which has worked well. For example, having Google translate recognize your language, certainly helps! Also, providing a lot of media in the language helps to promote it. This is a top-down approach. Just like China's ghost cities, the structures/systems exist in anticipation of future demand.

Just out of curiosity, what is being done on the grass roots level? Are there any bottom-up efforts?

Interesting conceptual point.

Of course, Esperanto had to go though a long phase of 'construction'. It was clear that there was no point in asking the world to take Esperanto seriously until much linguistic infrastructure was in place - ie, literature, course books, dictionaries (based on actual usage) and so on.

I think you are right in implying that the 'build it and they will come approach' is not enough. We have got to a point where the language is mature enough for a more proactive strategy.

Whilst there has always been a certain amount of small-scale varbado we now need to think strategically and exploit every opportunity to demonstrate the rationality of an artificial (purpose designed) language as the solution to the Babel problem.

We must shun the cul-de-sac of Raŭmismo.

The greatest hope is the introduction of Esperanto into the schools, and the best argument for that in my view is that this will improve pupils use of their mother tongue and promote logical thinking. The same arguments that have justified the teaching of Latin in schools in times past.

You can use the propaedeutic argument as a Trojan horse, but I think one is on safer intellectual ground if the justification is based on the merits of Esperanto not as an introduction to other languages but for the purely educational benefits it can bring.

In the meantime:

If you can teach, then teach it. If you can't teach, then don't hide the fact that you speak it, but calmly and in a non strident manner tell people why you speak it.

Wear the Esperanto star. Put a sticker on your car. Donate an Esperanto course book or dictionary to your local library. Write into the newspapers and TV stations when they get Esperanto wrong in their articles or programmes. In short publicise and normalise Esperanto.

sudanglo:Wear the Esperanto star. Put a sticker on your car. Donate an Esperanto course book or dictionary to your local library. Write into the newspapers and TV stations when they get Esperanto wrong in their articles or programmes. In short publicise and normalise Esperanto.

Good ideas.

Maybe, we should lobby language bloggers and polyglots to mention it.

sudanglo:
The greatest hope is the introduction of Esperanto into the schools, and the best argument for that in my view is that this will improve pupils use of their mother tongue and promote logical thinking. The same arguments that have justified the teaching of Latin in schools in times past.

In the spirit of 'a nod to the wise', I'd be wary of recycling the Latin-in-schools justifications. My reasoning is simply, that if they haven't ultimately succeeded in maintaining Latin in schools, the chances are the argument won't prove particularly fruitful for Esperanto either. I have an interest in Latin teaching and the best reason proffered at present is, that learning Latin gives direct access to a massive body of literature of great significance to western culture i.e. don't think classical, think classical, mediaeval, scholastic, neo-Latin, early modern scientific writing etc.

Following that line of thought, what is needed is the completion of the following sentence:

"The best reason for learning Esperanto is________________________."