Many people think that Esperanto-speakers have a negative attitude towards English and other languages. This would be a peculiar viewpoint for the writer as my first language is Scottish Standard English; and I regard English and its literature as something which is precious. My attitude is not unique among English-speaking Esperantists or those who speak other languages.
I have no negative feelings towards my own language; but I feel negativity towards those who think that English (or any other language) is the panacea for the world language problem. I also confess to negativity towards those who are using English for cultural imperialism. I desire a world which is diverse; and which does not succumb to a globalization which really means dominance by the United States, the United Kingdom — and the English language. I also want a world in which the smaller languages flourish.
Esperanto makes its modest but important contribution to world unity and diversity. It belongs to all, but is not the possession of any. It promotes internationalism by eliminating communication barriers, but it actively encourages dialogue with all cultures, nations, regions and groups.
During encounters with the media and individuals a frequent question is: How many people speak Esperanto?
It is not easy to answer this question because the word speak
is so slippery. Why do questioners almost always refer to speakers and not writers, readers or listeners? Perhaps the reason is that speech is regarded as being an ability which pre-dates reading and writing? But the intractable problem is how to define speak
.
English is confronted with the same problem. Most of the estimates of English-speakers are based upon ludicrous definitions of fluency. For example, do you speak French, German or Russian? Permit me to use myself as an example. I can read French fairly well and speak it badly. I read German badly and can use a few dozen basic words. I can read the Cyrillic alphabet with great difficulty and know a very few Russian words. Am I a German speaker? In my opinion, no. What about Russian? Do I need to respond? Would I class myself among those who speak French as a foreign language? I would not; but my ability to speak French is probably better than millions who claim that they can speak English. It is certainly the case that many who claim they are English speakers know English as well (or as badly) as I know German and Russian.
There are those who speak English as a second-language English with style and facility; but they are a small minority. On the other hand, there are millions who claim to speak English; but the language which they speak is not English according to my definition. They may call it English; but to do so perpetuates a grand illusion. I do not mock those who erroneously claim to speak the language of Shakespeare; but I bemoan the demeaning of English. I also worry about its future of English as it is subjected to degradation.
Esperanto has a unique advantage: it is a language which can be mastered; I have chosen the word mastered with care. Esperanto is constructed in order to make mastery possible. Not every learner of Esperanto will become a literary giant; but fluency is possible for ordinary persons. It is a strange phenomenon that many think that a planned language is inferior to unplanned languages: all languages, of course, contain planned elements. The structure of Esperanto facilitates learning and avoids ambiguities; yet Esperanto is latent with semantic possibilities and its users it are continually devising new modes of expression, which are instantly comprehensible by other Esperanto-speakers. The flexibility of Esperanto is extraordinary. But it has, of course, emerged from the languages spoken by human beings; it is not an alien creation.
The more who learn Esperanto the better will be world-wide communication. However, Esperanto already possesses a community of speakers in more than 120 countries. It is not a project or an experiment; it lives and breathes. Using Esperanto you can convey your thoughts and emotions with fluency and precision.
If you are dissatisfied with your language learning attempts, try Esperanto: a perfect fusion of logic and poetry. You will soon discover that it genuinely facilitates comprehension of the contemporary world; and is intrinsically fascinating.
David W. Bisset