"Invented" however, is not the right word to use. Better is the 'author' or 'creator'.
Zamenhof didn't really 'invent' the language. After numerous attempts to 'invent' a language, he finally came to the conclusion that there are similarities in so many languages.
As he was born in Europe, he studied mainly european languages.
Esperanto might not be so universal for african or asian native languages.
However, Chinese and Japanese language is in another way connected, as the graphic symbols are put together to make new words.
The basic idea of Esperanto is the same. One starts with a basic (radix) word, and prefixes, suffixes are added.
The basic word can still be recognised, so there's always a connection with the basic word.
All used pre- and suffixes are combinable. No exception in the language at all.
A great idea, and if not usefull in daily use (since English is widly spread), it certainly helps to learn other languages, for the propadeutic value is undeniable.
For those who aren't convinced about the benefits of the language, at least an interesting topic for theme collectors:
I found a catalogue in Esperanto, about Esperanto.
In the catalogue there's a list of stamps in or related to the language.
Some the first Esperanto stamps were issued by the former Union of Soviet Republics.
A tribute to Dr. Zamenhof and his idea for worldpeace.
2 comments:
What an interesting contribution! I am not sure that English is as widespread or useful as people claim. Esperanto is a planned language which belongs to no one country or group of states.
Take a look at www.esperanto.net
Esperanto works! I've used it in speech and writing in about fifteen 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. Over recent years I have had guided tours of Berlin, Douala and Milan in this 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. I recommend Esperanto as an ideal but as a very practical way to overcome language barriers.
Estimata s-ro Chapman,
mi dankas vin
Thank you for your reply.
I learned Esperanto at the age of 13.
Less then a year later, i had pen palls all over the world, Brazil, Czech republic, PR China, and even Iran. Which was quite special in the mid 80's. Not too long ago, one of my old contacts found me back thanks to Facebook. He stopped collecting stamps, but he remembered us writing and swapping.
The goal of Zamenhof was to connect people, far away from religions, political opinions.
At least for a part of the world it worked.
Thanks for the nice comment,
gxis revido (bye)
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