Esperanto

[October Country]

Someone mentioned Esperanto the other day and that got me thinking about what people think about it. For the uninformed, Esperanto is a constructed language that the creator made so that people all over the world could communicate with each other if they all had it as a second language.
What do you think? Could it work, or is it stupid to create a totally new language in stead of just choosing for example english as a global language?

 

[Avida]

Creating a new language would be the right way to go, no-one should assume their language is somehow superior, however good luck to anyone actually trying to put it into pratice - far too much opposition.

Im not sure if Esperanto has actually been written or if its a concept (please dont send me a wikipedia link) but i remember hearing of a japanese writing system (i THINK) in which the letters/kanji resembled the shape of your mouth when you said them, i'd like ideas like that in it.

 

[AuntyEthel]

It does sound like a better idea than making an existing language universal. People already have prejudices against some languages (I would refuse to learn French), and some, including English, are damn hard for non-native speakers to learn. If Esperanto is well-constructed and relatively simple for most nations to use, its a good idea.

 

[WingedFortress]

For a neutral language, it sounds kinda spanish.

 

[October Country]

It was made by a polack so much of the vocabulary is straight of eastern Europe, but it was created to be as simple as possible to learn. And for the record there is a dictionary of Esperanto - and a wikipedia edition written in it

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Harry Harrison (creator of The Stainless Steel Rat) LOVED Esperanto. He was always putting random plugs for it in his books.

Esperanto is an experiment that failed. A global language could work, but I think taking an existing one would be best. English, in many ways, is already a global language. The problem is that it's too complicated. Something along the lines of French might be better.

 

[Bill Chapman]

I would describe Esperanto as a remarkable success. Take a look at http://www.esperanto.net
Esperanto works! I?ve used it in speech and writing - and sung in it - in a dozen countries over recent years.

Indeed, the language has some remarkable practical benefits. Personally, I?ve made friends around the world through Esperanto that I would never have been able to communicate with otherwise. And then there?s the Pasporta Servo, which provides free lodging and local information to Esperanto-speaking travellers in over 90 countries. In the past year I have had guided tours of Berlin and Milan in the planned language. I have discussed philosophy with a Slovene poet, humour on television with a Bulgarian TV producer. I?ve discussed what life was like in East Berlin before the wall came down, how to cook perfect spaghetti, the advantages and disadvantages of monarchy, and so on.

 

[xitel]

Didn't this fail miserably? I mean, I know people still use it, but I seem to remember that it's just become another internet fad.

 

[Johnn Johnston]

Esperanto is an experiment that failed. A global language could work, but I think taking an existing one would be best. English, in many ways, is already a global language. The problem is that it's too complicated. Something along the lines of French might be better.

Really? I find English to be less complicated than French. No genders, less conjugating for verbs, no accents. However, that could be down to me being English and having a string of godawful French teachers.

 

[Jamash]

William Shatner starred in a film recorded in Esperanto.

Spoiler: William Shatner in Incubus

If it seems out of sync, I think that's just the Youtube video, I don't think it's dubbed.

Apparently he did learn Esperanto so he could star in this film.

 

[edinflames]

William Shatner starred in a film recorded in Esperanto.

Spoiler: William Shatner in Incubus

If it seems out of sync, I think that's just the Youtube video, I don't think it's dubbed.

Apparently he did learn Esperanto so he could star in this film.

Well, that puts me right off the idea. I would have considered learning it, but if Shatner endorses Esperanto then its clearly a language for time-wasters.

 

[Caliostro]

Didn't this fail miserably? I mean, I know people still use it, but I seem to remember that it's just become another internet fad.

It's a dead language yes. And yes, it failed horribly.

What's the point anyways? English is perfectly fine... Easy to learn, easy to speak and write and most people are already familiar with it anyways...Adding yet ANOTHER language for people to learn just sounds unnecessary...

 

[Jamash]

William Shatner starred in a film recorded in Esperanto.
SNIP

Well, that puts me right off the idea. I would have considered learning it, but if Shatner endorses Esperanto then its clearly a language for time-wasters.

Yeah, time wasters...or the best God-damn starship captain ever!

No, you're entitled to your opinion, but don't let you disbelief in 'The Shatness' put you off Esperanto if it really interests you.

 

[edinflames]

William Shatner starred in a film recorded in Esperanto.
SNIP

Well, that puts me right off the idea. I would have considered learning it, but if Shatner endorses Esperanto then its clearly a language for time-wasters.

Yeah, time wasters...or the best God-damn starship captain ever!

No, you're entitled to your opinion, but don't let you disbelief in 'The Shatness' put you off Esperanto if it really interests you.

Having re-read my post I think I failed to make my intended tone clear to y'all. I am still interested in Esperanto, and I fully appreciate Shatner's iconic interpretation of Kirk (though I am not quite as keen on Shatner the person). ;]

 

[ianuam]

I'd vote for Latin as the candidate for such a project. Making up a new language requires an awful lot of work, and is just asking for trouble when it comes to incorporating elements from other languages due to prejudices. Latin's a good idea because it forms the basis for many indo-european languages, is logical and is apt for both formal and artistic writing. However, it is still rather focused on the western world when it comes to grammatical rules and alphabet.

 

[Zeke109]

(I would refuse to learn French)

vous savez, cela m'offense d'une manière ou d'une autre. vous devriez avoir honte de vous. Imbécile.

 

[AuntyEthel]

(I would refuse to learn French)

vous savez, cela m'offense d'une manière ou d'une autre. vous devriez avoir honte de vous. Imbécile.

Ek kan ook n snaakse taal praat en se dinge aan jou dat jy kan nie verstaan nie. Ek sal my taal in jou poes skop en jy kan dit vreet jou fokken bobejaan.

 

[ace_of_something]

inimformed

uninformed.

No. It wouldn't work few would want to give up their own language.

 

[Aardvark]

English is already the global language. If France had spearheaded the industrial revolution, then Quebec had emerged as the dominant cultural force of the 20th century, we'd all be speaking French. Or possibly German.

vous savez, cela m'offense d'une manière ou d'une autre. vous devriez avoir honte de vous. Imbécile.

Oh non! Italiens! Ils veulent notre cercle-sucrerie arctique qui se développe seulement en cercle arctique!