| The Esperanto language was developed by Dr. | | | | internet, I can and do write to people in |
| L. L. Zamenhof in Europe over a hundred years | | | | China, Mali, Russia, Italy, France, Korea, |
| ago. No one knows exactly how many people | | | | and any other country in the world where |
| speak any language fluently. Some estimates | | | | someone speaks Esperanto.The subtitle of this |
| put the speakers of Esperanto at more than a | | | | article says that Esperanto can be good for |
| million. They live everywhere in the world. | | | | you. Here`s how: Esperanto is so much easier |
| Zamenhof`s idea came from his experience in | | | | to learn than a national language that you |
| European communities which were made up of | | | | can be speaking and writing it within months. |
| separate groups who gathered together because | | | | Because of its logical organization of roots |
| they spoke the same language. Next door to | | | | and affixes, what you learn about Esperanto |
| them was another enclave of people who spoke | | | | transfers easily to your study of other |
| only their own language. There may have been | | | | languages. It is estimated that a person who |
| ten or more different groups clustered near | | | | studies Esperanto first, can learn another |
| each other, yet they could not communicate | | | | language in about half the time it would |
| outside their little language zones.This led | | | | usually take.You can find more information |
| to great difficulties in trade and social | | | | about Esperanto at this site: the word, is |
| interaction. Zamenhof felt that he could | | | | made up of the root -esper- hope, the noun |
| create a simple language which everyone could | | | | ending -o-, and the suffix -ant- doer. So the |
| learn as their second tongue. Then they could | | | | word means - one who hopes.Dr. Zamenhof |
| peacefully and productively communicate.As | | | | published his book under the name, Dr. |
| you can imagine, there was great resistance. | | | | Esperanto, one who hopes for a better world |
| Learning another language is time-consuming | | | | through increased communication.All |
| and difficult. But many people did learn | | | | Esperantists have the same hope and invite |
| Esperanto and communication did improve.Today | | | | you to learn more.Jack Wilson is an |
| people around the world who speak only their | | | | Esperantist and translator working out of |
| native language and Esperanto can communicate | | | | Tempe, Arizona. |
| fully with each other. With email and the | | | | |