Newsgroups: sci.lang
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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Learning English vs. Esperanto
Message-ID: <elnaDxACtv.1px@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <3226b859.3342115@news.nando.net> <50789h$56n@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 00:46:43 GMT
Lines: 36
Sender: elna@netcom15.netcom.com

coby@euler.Berkeley.EDU (Coby (Jacob) Lubliner) writes in a recent posting (reference <50789h$56n@agate.berkeley.edu>):
>
>The notion that it's only the formal structure of a language that
                      ^^^^
>determines ease of learning is "certainly" fallacious.
>

I believe that most readers of this thread will heartily agree with this.
But remember that *none* of the Esperantists have ever used the word "only"
in this context....
I hope that you will accept that the formal structure is *among* the
determining characteristics.

It is also among the more difficult parameters to change: that is, we
could more easily print books, make films, instigate classes, etc in
Esperanto (whose structure is easy) than simplify the grammar and
wordstock of English (which is currently more accessible.)  Besides,
if one simplified the structure (a' la Basic English), that would
undermine the accessibility, for where are the films, books, etc in
that simplified form?

I have several Japanese friends who have studied English for six years or
more, listen to Europop in English, watch American films and TV, and yet
do not speak/understand English at a practically useful level. Some of
them have studied Esperanto (without the benefit of these popular means
of access) for a few years, and speak better Esperanto than English.

Ease of access to reinforcement is not the *only* criterion for ease
of learning. It is not a simple issue!


-- 
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
