2103 - Reading Esperanto - HỌ VÀ TÊN

Esperanto
Cu vi paroli Esperanlon? Ne? Can you understand this? Should you be expected to? Depending on
who you ask, somewhere from 10,000 to two million people in places all over the world could
understand this sentence, and presumably reply in this same language. And it is not one that ever
evolved through any natural process. To give it its technical name, it is a ‘constructed auxiliary
language’. More specifically, it is ‘Esperanto’, and out of the several attempts throughout modern
history to create artificial languages, Esperanto remains the most widely spoken.
‘Widely spoken’ is a relative term here. Compared to any natural language, the number of Esperanto
speakers remains pitiably small — a far cry from the high hopes of its inventor, Dr. Ludwig Zamenhof,
who was an eye doctor growing up in the racially divided Eastern-European town of Bialystok. In this
complex and uneasy mixture of Poles, Jews, Russians, and Germans, each speaking their own
language, a high-minded Zamenhof lamented how these languages so obviously categorised the
city’s residents into different, and often hostile, groups. He resolved to create an easily learnt and
politically neutral language, one that would transcend nationality, ethnicity, race, colour, and creed. It
would be a universal second language, and his first book detailing this idea was published in 1887.
Surprisingly perhaps, the concept quickly gained acceptance and a loyal following. It seems that in a
linguistically divided Eastern Europe, many people possessed the same idealism which drove
Zamenhof. From there, then to the West, then into the Americas and Asia, Esperanto journals,
magazines, and clubs, were formed, ultimately leading to the first world congress of Esperanto
speakers in France, in 1905. These congresses have been held every year since then, apart from when
world wars delayed proceedings. And today, Esperanto is still present, although very much under the
radar. Whilst not yet having achieved the status of being an official language of any state or
governing body, it is, at least, occasionally taught at schools and educational institutions on an
informal or experimental basis.
What actually keeps Esperanto going is the motivation of those who become interested. Language
books, journals, and various online and video-based self-learning technologies exist, as well as an
active speaking community, but the key question remains: whether it is worth investing the time in
acquiring the language. In other words, does it have any innate advantages over other languages or
equip its speakers with a useful skill in life? The first question can be promptly answered. Proponents
explain that, by being so simple and internally consistent, Esperanto is easy to learn, being able to be
mastered in a fraction of the lime needed for any conventional language.
While we may accept that, the second question is far more problematic and raises further issues, the
main one being whether the language is even necessary. Would international communication indeed
be better if we all spoke Esperanto? Are there not other factors involved? And why cannot the English
language take that role (which it virtually has)? Why divert state funds to support what may always
remain a marginalised speech community, especially when there exists so many other languages
spoken by far more people, and of far greater utility? The answers are emotional, complex, and
confusing.
One problem with Esperanto is that it is culturally European. Its vocabulary and internal rules of
construction derive from European languages, making it difficult for Asian learners. There is also a
large and imposing vocabulary, with many nouns rather idiosyncratically chosen, and a certain
unnecessary complexity which Zamenhof (who was not a professional linguist) had not realised. In
1894, he suggested a ‘reformed Esperanto’; however, the Esperanto speakers of that day were loathe
to alter a language which they had already mastered, rejecting Zamenhof’s proposals, and also those
of a special French committee formed 13 years later to discuss the adoption of a standard
international language.
In the meantime, another artificial language had emerged. Called ‘Ido’, it was a product of various
academics who embedded the changes that Esperanto was thought to have needed. This new
language, sharing the same lofty goals, divided the support base of Esperanto. A large number
defected to Ido, which then underwent further changes through committee after committee, and
eventually the formation of an independent academy. However, Ido suffered substantial decline when
its best-known advocate was killed in a car accident, and with the advent of World War One. After the
war, its most vocal proponent published his own constructed language, ‘Novial’, making the schism all
too confusing, such that the original Esperanto quickly became the predominant language of its type.
Esperanto may lead the field, but it falls far short of the aim of both its creator and many of its
speakers — that of a truly global second language uniting all in mutual understanding. This high-
minded goal, almost universally shared in the early days of the language, has mellowed among many
followers, who are now content just to have a special language and its culture and community with
whom they can interact. The unlikelihood of achieving more than this was even admitted in an
Esperanto convention in 1980, although many still cling to the pracelo, the ‘original goal’, of an official
status and worldwide use. Will this ever be achieved? All I can say is estus agrable pensas tiel, sed
preshau certe ne estos.
SECTION 2: QUESTIONS 14-26
Questions 14-17
Hiện Notepad
Write TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN.

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this

14 The number of Esperanto speakers is quite large.
15 Zamenhof spoke many languages.
16 Esperanto is easier to learn than other languages.
17 Esperanto World Congresses have been held every year since 1905.
Questions 18-21
Hiện Notepad
Complete the sentences.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
The different ethnic groups in Zamenhof s hometown were frequently 18
The first Esperanto speakers shared Zamenhofs 19
English now essentially provides the means of 20
Official support of Esperanto could be considered a waste of 21
Questions 22-26
Hiện Notepad
Answer the questions.
Choose the correct letter, E, I, or B.

E Esperanto
I Ido
B Both
Which language
22 had many stages in its development?
23 had its development affected by World War One?
24 has some strange words?
25 was designed by many people?
26 has never achieved its aim?

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Esperanto

SECTION 2: QUESTIONS 14-26

Write TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN.

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this

Complete the sentences.

Answer the questions.

Choose the correct letter, E, I, or B.

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