ESPERANTO

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1933, Page 7

ESPERANTO

ITS EDUCATIONAL VALUE. , 'WIDESPREAD USE OF LANGUAGE. Unldcr modern conditions there is a j great need for a simple yet adequate international auxiliary language, whiyli j can be learned and adopted in all civilised countries, in speech and writing in all walks of life. There is already in existence such a. language—Esperanto—i and it is assuming an ever increasing importance in international education , to-day. .j:

! This language has now stood the test !of forty-five years practical uSe. Its success has been demonstrated at no | less than twenty-four international ; congresses respresenting from thirty to : forty nationalities. No interpreters are •; needed at these gatherings. ’ Not only is there a widespread and fluent use of the language for travel, j cultural intercourse and personal friend- [ ship, hut it* achievements for technical and professional purposes are already ! considerable. Lectureships have been | established in many European Univeij sities, while many original works, scientific and technical matter, papers and treatises have been published in this j language.

I During 1931 alone 1204 Esperanto talks and over 500 lessons were broadcast from wireless stations. The international society of Esperantist teachers has on its files the names of 7000 teach- ' ers in sixty countries, and over 10UU schools in thirty-two countries where classes have been set up, A working knowledge of this language can he obtained in a remarkably short time, and the increase in its liter- ; ature is already sufficient to justify a study of the language for its own sake.