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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: education, not force 
Message-ID: <elnaDMu14K.EwG@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <4el8tf$a3v@chleuasme.francenet.fr> <823128131snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk> <31166CB2.167EB0E7@durham.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 19:36:20 GMT
Lines: 37
Sender: elna@netcom20.netcom.com

Matthew Cunliffe <Ancient.ucs@durham.ac.uk> writes in a recent posting (reference <31166CB2.167EB0E7@durham.ac.uk>):
>
>Whilst a common language would be useful, it is perhaps more likely if
>one let a language become dominant through a general and gradual
>increased usage, as opposed to a forced common language.
>
I advocate wider choice in education. If students are offered classes in
English and French *only*, then those two languages will continue to be
dominant. If the schools offer Esperanto, Danish, Italian, etc. then
there might be an "organic" development in something like a free market
of languages.

The current emphasis on English as a *required* language (in Germany and
elsewhere) looks to me rather like an attempt to "force" a common language.

BTW the intention of most (if not ALL) advocates of Esperanto is that it
be a supplemental language, not that it displace any local tongue. English
and many other large national languages have aggressively combatted 
minority languages.
i
>I for one, do not mind speaking other languages for the time being, try
>to speak another European language on a regular basis to keep in
>practice.
>
Der Meinung bin ich auch!

If an Italian who also speaks French and Spanish meets with a Dane who
also speaks English and German, there is still no common language. This 
is why I advocate an agreement that all educated persons learn an
interantional auxiliary language, such as Esperanto.


-- 
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
