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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: Learning Japanese vs. Esperanto
Message-ID: <elnaDwLuzr.1v5@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <4v08hq$9ss@sunburst.ccs.yorku.ca> <3216B4EE.4FBC@gold.tc.umn.edu>
Distribution: inet
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 1996 19:19:02 GMT
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Sender: elna@netcom9.netcom.com

bunda002@gold.tc.umn.edu writes in a recent posting (reference <3216B4EE.4FBC@gold.tc.umn.edu>):
>
>Certainly Esperanto is passed over every day by language learners all
>over the world, who add more second-language speakers to the two or
>three most-used interlanguages each year than Esperanto has ever had in
>total.
>
Most potential students of other languages are never given the option of
enrolling in an Esperanto class.  There are *massive* industries supporting
English, French, German and other languages; while Esperanto is mostly ignored
out-of-hand.

>I actually think that direct broadcast TVs, expanded world trade, and
>cheaper international travel will do even more to promote English than
>will the Internet. English is today gaining ground against Russian in
>the former Soviet Union, and may indeed even gain ground against
>Mandarin in some parts of a possible disintegrated China after the death
>of Deng Xiaoping.
>
Do not underestimate the gains being made by German in the East-block
countries! Who is the most likely trading partner?  Do the resorts in Spain
and Italy emphasize English these days??
>
>I would like to hear the answer to that question. What is the point of
>studying Esperanto?
>
There are many:
1. Literature, both original & translated. (Much is available in Esperanto
which is *not* available in English!)  
2. Travel to many Esperanto-based congresses, etc. (Many people prefer 
spending a week in a single place with a decidedly international crowd with
whom conversation is easy, rather than vagabonding between tourist locales
and stammering in broken English.)
3. The direct and simple pleasure of mastering another language.
4. Aesthetic appreciation of Esperanto's elegance.
5. Receiving and sending letters from/to penpals in exotic countries.
6. Improving one's understanding of linguistics.
7. Establishing friendships with persons of various other lands.
8. Having places to stay in other countries. (Esperantists rarely need to
stay in hotels when traveling!)
9. Communication in a neutral medium is polite and pleasant.  

A Japanese friend of mine pointed out a nice distinction- he said that 
when he wants to *find out* something, he uses English; but when he
wants to *express* something, he uses Esperanto. The Esperanto press is
less censored that the English-language press!


-- 
Miko SLOPER                   elna@netcom.com         USA  (510) 653 0998
Direktoro de la          ftp.netcom.com:/pub/el/elna   fax (510) 653 1468 
Centra Oficejo de la     Learn Esperanto! Free lessons: e-mail/snail-mail
Esperanto-Ligo de N.A.      Write to above address or call 1-800-828 5944
