Why Esperanto?

BLOGGING ABOUT WHATEVER

ENTRY - 2

TITLE: "Why Esperanto?"

AUTHOUR: J. William Bell

DATE POSTED: 2025-03-12

Vi veri veniversum vivus vicci!

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Per la potenco de la vero, mi vivis kaj konkeris la universon.

"Pehr lah poh-tehn-soh day lah vey-roh, mee vee-vees kai konn-kehr-ees lah oon-eee-vehr-sohn."

What you have just read is a sample of Latin, with its English and Esperanto translations. I have included a phonetic spelling of the Esperanto because, it is possible that this is the first time you have ever read anything in that language. And I would like to tell you why I learned Esperanto; as well as why I continue to study it.

Originally, I only learned Esperanto for the purpose of increasing my confidence. There was a time in my life when I though I was supposed to study Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. All of these languages have a reputation of being difficult to learn, especially if you are over the age of 30. So I decided to learn a language that had a reputation for being easy to learn first, and that language was Esperanto.

Esperanto was designed by its creator; Ludwig Zamenhoff to be radically easy. The grammar is simple, the majourity of the words are modified loaner-words from a variety of European languages. In theory, if you have an I.Q. Score (Intelligence Quotient) that is higher than 83, you can learn everything you need to know about this language in 90 days or less. I have been learning Esperanto for longer than 90 days not because of difficulty, but because I continue to be amazed by its potential for poetry, as well as a desire to tell some stories in that language; hopefully someday soon.

It is my understanding that Zamenhoff invented this language because he dreamed of a future where Humanity lived in peace with itself. He dreamed of a world where anyone could speak any language they pleased, while also knowing Esperanto. I believe that as dreams go, that is a beautiful dream worth chasing.

On a less noble note, another reason I continue studying and experimenting with Esperanto is because Adolf Hitler and Joeseph Stalin tried to destroy it. The thought of giving those very-too-Human-monsters some posthumous frustration fills me with an almost inappropriate joy.

"The truth is not an insult, and reality is not an attack."

- Terrence Popp

La vero ne estas insulto, kaj realo ne estas atako.

Excelsior!