You may have noticed that the only International Auxiliary Language we mentioned by name in our introductory article was Esperanto. There’s a good reason: Esperanto is the world’s most widely spoken IAL.
That’s not to say that everyone associates Esperanto with the serious use of a practical second language. But a lot of people know it’s a language of some sort.
It’s a start!
History
Esperanto was constructed in 1887 by Polish ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof, inspired by his own divided city of Białystok. Four distinct groups speaking different languages could manage only hostility.
Fun fact: Zamenhof published his language using a pseudonym. That pseudonym was Dokter Esperanto. Esperanto means, “One who hopes.” He designed his language to be deliberately simple and easy to learn. His goal was no less than world peace.
You’re undoubtedly thinking that this was an unrealistic goal. In light of world events since the creation of Esperanto, your skepticism is entirely valid.
But…Esperanto did not fade away.
Zamenhof was astute enough to realize that his language would need to change over time. He supported an international association for Esperanto. Though battling contrary opinions, bickering, and general human stubbornness, the Universal Esperanto Organization (UEO) was formed in 1908.
People hated it.
Ironically, it was largely individual factions opposing an international organization. They feared the effect it would have on their traditional groups. Even when working toward a universal language and world peace, people had a hard time seeing past their personal comfort and interests.
Through ups and downs and two world wars, the Esperanto community never stopped trying. Today the UEO has members in 121 countries, 70 national associations, and even an office at the United Nations.
Practicality
Do we need Esperanto? This is a reasonable question as technology advances at a blistering pace.
Esperanto and other IALs have enjoyed a renewed popularity as the Internet made it possible for users to connect. Esperanto, as both a spoken and written language, is used by professional groups, in original literature and translations, and even in movies, plays, and music.
It remains easy to learn compared to other languages and with a relative lack of cultural baggage, it is theoretically practical and useful.
Esperanto could be mankind’s communication bridge. The world is connected through the Internet, international misunderstandings and misinformation abound, and people are becoming desperate for some hope of unity and cooperation.
Esperanto: Pros and Cons
The key term in the section above is theoretically. Theoretically, all sorts of things are amazing. Theoretically, we could hop in our flying cars or travel with a time machine to a less troubled era.
How does theoretical Esperanto stand up to a list of practical pros and cons?
Pros
- Current use. Esperanto is the most widely used and spoken International Auxiliary Language. This alone makes it more practical than any other. It has adherents all over the world and can be learned on platforms like Duolingo.
- Ease of use. Esperanto remains easy to learn. This adheres to a foundational guideline of IALs.
- Esperanto has been around since the late 1800s. It has the infrastructure to manage its evolution via the Academy of Esperanto. This group is responsible for keeping the language consistent with its founding principles.
- Esperanto is not reliant on political power or technology. The internet has made it easier to spread, but Esperanto is designed to be learned and taught by people, no matter how small the groups wishing to communicate.
Cons
- Push-back. Because people continue to be people, there has been a lot of opposition to Esperanto since its founding. Hitler and Stalin forbid its use and punished adherents. Today, people report abuse online for seeking knowledge of Esperanto. That, however, is true of nearly everything. Stop reading the comments, everyone.
- Yes, both a pro and a con, evolution is problematic. While the Academy can control the official language, the more it is used, the more it will change. Languages naturally evolve based on the needs of their speakers. There is a real danger that Esperanto’s practical evolution will turn it from a constructed language to a natural one.
- Western influence. Zamenhof created Esperanto using entirely Western languages as sources. It’s far less accessible to those who speak Eastern, African, or Indo-European languages.
Esperanto Today
Esperanto is seeing an Internet-fueled resurgence in popularity. With estimates that its users number up to a million people, it truly has reached all corners of the world. Just barely, but a million people sharing an IAL is remarkable.
Dictionaries, research, and UEO publications keep members up to date and the language moving forward. In a world where technology has failed to unite, the popularity of IALs, especially Esperanto, reveals a world hungry for common ground.
That alone makes Esperanto relevant more than a century after its introduction. Kumbaya, Dr. Zamenhof, we need you now more than ever.
