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Esperanto would be a common language but...

by Alkanadi, September 17, 2015

Messages: 23

Language: English

tommjames (User's profile) September 20, 2015, 11:13:57 AM

Demian: First, you say the world doesn't need an IAL. Then, you say the world doesn't need an IAL besides English.
No, I said the world has never felt the need for an IAL, not that there isn't a need. And by IAL I'm referring more to a constructed language - something that was deliberately designed to be easy, as opposed to something like English. I only mentioned English because it has been performing the function of an IAL, albeit to a limited degree.

Demian:How is it possible that someone wished there were a simpler, more neutral way to speak to people from other linguistic backgrounds without seriously considering an IAL?
Note that I said nothing of neutrality. But the answer to this is obvious: people are generally not aware of the concept of IALs, and they appear not to care about the problem enough to seriously consider the possible solutions.

sudanglo (User's profile) September 20, 2015, 1:22:01 PM

It seems to me that there are two ways, in principle, in which the number of speakers of Esperanto might be boosted to a level where it has a practical value.

1. Esperanto is not promoted as a solution to the babel problem. It is argued for on educational grounds. Allows learners to experience what it is like to speak another language without imposing the usual burdens associated with learning a foreign language, and plausibly will have a beneficial influence on their clear use of their mother tongue.

2. Again Esperanto is not argued for specifically. Rather the sort of arguments that Zamenhof presented in 'La Unua Libro' are used to press the case for a constructed purpose-built language for international use (alongside English the current dominant lingua franca). If Zamenhof's arguments are accepted then it is a very short step to viewing Esperanto favourably, and a climate is created for accepting Esperanto (as the leader in the field).

[If you have never read La Unua Libro you can access the arguments put forward by Zamenhof by searching the Net for Fundamenta Krestomatio and then scrolling to the section Artikoloj pri Esperanto.

bryku (User's profile) September 22, 2015, 8:53:00 AM

Demian:I wish for a day when regional languages replace English in India in education and administration. It will help millions to get a higher education. I have seen many people who cannot continue their education because the instruction is in English, only in English. No matter how smart I am, if I don't know English, my career is doomed. Sheer stupidity it is.
I am with you. Every nation should have its national language, no matter what. And a simple common and neutral language should be used for cultural exchange between nations. English is a very bad player for the role. And that is what most Anglophones do not understand (unless English would be replaced and they would have to learn a difficult foreign language).

Vestitor (User's profile) September 22, 2015, 10:36:04 AM

Two things: In this thread (or possibly another) Sudanglo remarked that Esperanto's speakers were largely educated, possibly middle-class, people. That to me suggests the people who do it more as a lifestyle choice and interesting hobby, rather than people who need to merely communicate in a wider circle. These people already likely have a reasonable enough mastery of English to get on in the world monopolised by English. I risk remarking that there will be quite a number of 'raumists' among that group.

Second: somewhere else on this forum someone said that they thought it was a mistake to teach Esperanto to young children, and received much agreement. Is this not counterproductive? I'm sure people must understand that the spread and acceptance of English occurs because it is taught to children - culturally in a passive way and then directly in schools. Those countries doing this are the ones more able to take part in an Anglo-dominated economy, business world, global education etc etc. It was because they started as children.

robbkvasnak (User's profile) September 26, 2015, 4:48:03 PM

I taught Spanish in Kindergarten through 5th grage for many years. It is poppycock to think that young children do not profit from exposure to a foreign language. It depends on how and for which purpose the language is taught. If it is a l'art pour l'art type of class, then, of course, it is probable that the little kids won't remember much. But I found reasons for my kids to speak and use Spanish. That I was successful was proven over and over to me by students later in life who thanked me for my efforts. Of course, not every pupil had that experience. But many did.
It is a type of adult arrogance to put such little import to young pupils' interests. And actually, it was a book by Mario Pei (the Family of Words) that has influenced my life. I read that book when I was about 8 years old.

robbkvasnak (User's profile) September 27, 2015, 6:47:10 PM

When I first leraned Esperanto there was no web. Now I go online and immediately have contacts through Esperanto. I can read and listen to many new sources.

erinja (User's profile) September 27, 2015, 9:35:49 PM

Public Service Announcement: If someone is trolling please do not engage with the troll. Just report the messages. Known trolls with previously-deleted accounts do not need to commit any special new infractions to be banned, once they've been deleted once with cause, further accounts are deleted as soon as they are identified.

robbkvasnak (User's profile) September 27, 2015, 9:55:45 PM

Thank you Erinja! This is a site for those (of us) who constructively work on Esperanto. It should not be for those who want to put us down. We have enough work with the development of the use of Esperanto and all foreign language teaching withou the nay-sayers.

Vestitor (User's profile) September 28, 2015, 12:24:56 AM

I largely agree, but removing such posts, and any replies, could give the impression (to the troll at least) that people can't provide a robust enough answer to all the troll's tripe.

Tempodivalse (User's profile) September 28, 2015, 12:55:16 AM

Vestitor:I largely agree, but removing such posts, and any replies, could give the impression (to the troll at least) that people can't provide a robust enough answer to all the troll's tripe.
Well - why should we care what the troll thinks? ... I don't like to dignify their comments with responses.

(Rough parallel: Creationists like Ken Ham are totally ignored by the scientific community, not because the latter struggles to provide a response, but because even acknowledging them would make them look more legitimate than they are.)

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