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New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 759, 5 February 1954, Page 5

Sir,~Your correspondent "Student" cannot agree with your other correspondents I. R. Maxwell-Stewart and "Angelene" on the pronunciation of either "Los" or "Angeles," and then makes the unqualified statement, "There will be no need for Esperanto as English is becoming the international language." Without rancour, may I correct him? — Certainly more and more people may be speaking various versions or dialects of English or brok@» English, but more qualifications than this are necessary before a language may be acceptable for international use. An internationa] !snguage must be phonetic (with no argument as to the pronunciation of "Los" or "Angeles"), It must. be entirely neutral, giving no national advantages. It must be acceptable to East and West, and be easily learned by both. It must be flexible and capable of conveying the finest shades of meaning (exit Basic English) and above all, it must have the approval] of the average citizen in all

the different countries. Esperanto conforms to all these qualifications, and what is more, it is an organisation with fervent adherents in every country of the world. What better recommendation could any language have than this? "Student" can confirm my statements at his own Esperanto Club in Palmerston North, and for the sake of accuracy in his future letters, I advise him to do this. In conclusion, Sir, a _ petition with 16,000,000 signatures asking for Esperanto to be accepted as the official international language, is at present in the hands of Unesco, and will be considered at their next meeting in Montevideo this year. For the sake of the future of the world, let us hope and pray it will

be successful,

NELSON

HILL

(Wellington).