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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: Single European Language
Message-ID: <elnaDA6w0D.D2G@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <690061730wnr@afin.demon.co.uk> <DUNCAN.95Jun14123826@lightning.eee.strath.ac.uk> <3rn87i$n9o@news.ccit.arizona.edu>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 00:57:49 GMT
Lines: 31
Sender: elna@netcom18.netcom.com

hlu@GAS.UUG.Arizona.EDU (Hung J Lu) writes in a recent posting (reference <3rn87i$n9o@news.ccit.arizona.edu>):
>
>Whether you intend it or not, when there is an official language,
>there will be people that speak it as their first language. Give
>it enough time for people to move around (and population movement
>will only increase and not decrease), local languages will be
>gradually wiped out. Don't underestimate the rate of intercultural 
>marriages. When there is a common language, new possibilities
>happen.
>
I believe that during the millenium-and-a-half of European history which
is roughly called "the Dark Ages" through the "Rennaissance" the major 
international language of that continent was Latin. This was learned as a 
*second* language by nearly all of its speakers. I am aware of the 
historical decay of Latin into the Romance languages, but it did *not*
harm the Germanic languages, nor stamp out its offspring.

I would like to point out that the many children I have met from Esperanto-
speaking parents are almost all tri-lingual, having picked up the two 
native languages of the parents in addition to Esperanto. This is in sharp
contrast to the common spectacle of Mexican-American or Phillipine-American
children who have no ability or interest in their parents' language/culture.

I do not know any person who speaks *only* Esperanto, and can foresee no
situation which would cause this to come to be. All textbooks etc emphasise 
that Esperanto is intended as a *second* language to serve as a bridge between
peoples, not a tool for alienation or subjugation.

Miko.


