Newsgroups: sci.lang
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!rochester!cornellcs!newsstand.cit.cornell.edu!portc01.blue.aol.com!chi-news.cic.net!metro.atlanta.com!news.he.net!uwm.edu!newsfeeds.sol.net!news.maxwell.syr.edu!worldnet.att.net!ix.netcom.com!elna
From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: languages & happiness!!
Message-ID: <elnaE5K2wu.94G@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <853605030.2652@dejanews.com> <7fn2twloys.fsf@phoenix.cs.hku.hk> <3302924D.2F7B@postoffice.worldnet.att.net> <7fg1z0pwx1.fsf@phoenix.cs.hku.hk>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 19:17:18 GMT
Lines: 23
Sender: elna@netcom7.netcom.com

sdlee@cs.hku.hk (Lee Sau Dan ~{@nJX6X~}) writes in a recent posting (reference <7fg1z0pwx1.fsf@phoenix.cs.hku.hk>):
>
>I want   to  argue AGAINST the   silly claim  that  Esperanto  is *the
>easiest* langauge for *everyone*.   For many people, Esperanto is much
>more difficult than a couple of other langauges.
>
I will gladly join Mr Lee in arguing against this silly claim. In fact,
I hope that this has never been specifically claimed in any forum. It is
rather obvious at a moment's reflection that a German should be able to
learn Dutch easier than Esperanto; and that a Cantonese speaker should
master Mandarin more readily than Esperanto. [FWIW I have found Esperanto
*much* easier than German, although the latter is quite closely related 
to my native English.]  Virtually any statement in this arena which is 
cast with absolutes is bound to be subject to a host of exceptions.

If the reader is looking for folly, and is willing to interpolate a
few modifiers, he will surely find (or invent) a rich vein.

-- 
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-ESPERANTO
