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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: languages & happiness!!
Message-ID: <elnaE4p91G.Kw1@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <853605030.2652@dejanews.com> <32E507F2.2380@sn.nono> <elnaE4Dypw.C98@netcom.com> <32E66A03.7627@sn.nono>
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 03:44:04 GMT
Lines: 78
Sender: elna@netcom20.netcom.com

ablehr@sn.nono writes in a recent posting (reference <32E66A03.7627@sn.nono>):
>Esperanto League N America wrote:
>
>> ablehr@sn.nono writes in a recent posting (reference <32E507F2.2380@sn.nono>):
>>
>> >The world is as happy as it's going to be already, and to the extent
>> >that it's not happy, it's not because of lack of "international
>> >languages" (whatever that may be).
>>
>> I am always amused at the ease with which Usenet conversations can
>> dismiss huge topics with the wave of a pinkie....
>
>So Esperanto is a "huge topic"?  Depends on who you ask, doesn't it?
>
I was referring to the huge topic of "Happiness".

>> Perhaps happiness is thwarted by isolation, and nurtured by communication.
>
>Yes, so what?  In case you haven't noticed, people all over the world
>are already engaged in happy communication, as they have been for
>thousands of years and will be for thousands to come.
>
Of course.
And when people travel, they *often* encounter language barriers, which
can cause frustration and unhappiness.

>> I know that I have not felt happy when dealing with the frustration of
>> language barriers. And I do fancy myself happy when I use the international
>> language Esperanto in meaningful dialog with non-English-speakers.
>
>My impression of Esperantists is that speaking the language makes them a
>group apart, and that being part of the group is what's important, not
>the act of communication itself.  They tend to communicate only within
>the group, having little tolerance towards people who don't belong to
>it, and showing little or no interest in communicating with
>"outsiders".  The Esperanto *culture* seems to be much more important
>than the language itself, and learning the language buys you a pass to
>this *one* culture, not to a diversity of *different* cultures. 
>Esperantists boost about the diversity of the Esperanto community, but
>somehow the inherent cultural diversity vanishes under the influx of the
>Esperanto culture, making them a very homogeneous group.  Having to
>become equal to be accepted doesn't promote intercultural understanding
>- on the contrary.
>
I regret that this is your impression: mine is *quite* different!
When I talk to a Russian in Esperanto, I use the occasion to learn about
the heart of Russian culture; we speak of things that matter, because
Esperanto allows a deeper conversation than most Russians can manage in
basic-level English (I know no Russian). Likewise when I talk with my
Japanese friends, we compare details of Japanese and US culture. I do
not doubt that some dullards use Esperanto just to talk about Esperanto
stuff, but I can honestly claim I have never met one! 

I take great delight in the ability of this international language to
eliminate group distinctions, not to create them. 

Perhaps the judgement about Esperantists' allegedly having "little
tolerance toward people who don't belong to [the Esperantists' group]"
is the flip side of their natural enthusiasm for people with whom they
*can* use this method of communication...

>Disclaimer: I'm not saying that this goes for all Esperantists, but it's
>an impression I've had when I've come across groups of Esperantists
>(just because I don't speak Esperanto, it doesn't mean I can't
>understand a lot of what they're saying, more particularly what they're
>saying about those "poor" non-Esperantists).
>
Well, like I said, the pleasure of using Esperanto is so keen and 
immediate that those who are left out will *feel* left out!

I have felt like this at friends' houses when they play bridge: I am
then useless and ignored....   [Poor Miko-- he can't play with us!]

-- 
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
