North American Esperanto Review NORDAMERIKA ESPERANTO-REVUO Novcmbro • Decembro • 1960 Opening Session of the Universal Congress of Esperanto in Brussels, Belgium, 1960. M ESPERANTO REVIEW Donald Broadribb, editor 5615 Woodlawn, Chicago 37, Illinois, U.S.A. Published bi-monthly by the Esperanto League The Esperanto League for North America, for North America, Inc., as its official organ. Inc., is a non-profit organization to encourage the Subscription free to members. use of the International Language, Esperanto. *.ti,-ta t> in/ri. »oa Secretary: Conrad Fisher, 808 Stewart St., Mead- Memhership Dues: Regular Members, $3.; hup- ... „ m A-,. „ , .-R 0 _l- **• u »=714. «nn T-r iv/r u ville, Pa. Treasurer: Adrian Hughes, 476 So. porting Member, $5.; Patron, $10; Life Member, _ ' . „.,,, ~ „.„ ,&T j ., i r. • • -i r Bailey Ave., Hillsboro, Oregon. 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CONTENTS Mario Pei and the Language Problem, by Karl Nell ........ p.l Novaj Adresoj ................................ p. 3 Esperanto in the Press............................ p. 3 Invitation to Seattle............................ p. 4 Recent Tourist Literature in Esperanto................ . * p. 5 Is it Too Much Trouble ?s by Conrad Fisher.............. p. 5 Esperanto News Notes............................ p. 6 46th Universal Congress of Esperanto.................. p. 8 Book Review: Zamenhof, Creator of Esperanto ............ p. 8 From the Editor ................................ p. 10 Mesaĝo al la Membroj de ELNA................ .. .. .. p. 11 Malgranda Venko, rakonto de Marjorie Boulton .......... p. 12 Letero al Amikoj en Usono, de Roy kaj Dorothy Holland .. .. .. p. 14 "Grains in the Wind" .. .. .. .. .. .. ». .. .. .. .. .. .. ,. p. 15 Leteroj al la Redaktoro............................ p. 16 Deziras Korespondi.............................. p. 16 Al Cio, Poemo de Damjan Vahen-Svetinov.............. p. 17 Vizito de D-ro Kuwahara al Chicago.................. p. 17 Novaj Libroj .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. p. 17 Skolta Esperantista Ligo, de C. Stanley Otto ............ p. 18 La Movado en Usono kaj Kanado...................... p. 19 Local Addresses................................ p. 20 Diversaj anoncoj................................ p. 21 MARIO PEI AND THE LANGUAGE PROBLEM The newest book of the famous linguist at Columbia University in New York City, Mario Pei, deserves special interest on the part of both Esperantists and others interested in world affairs. Its title, 'One Language for the World -- And How to Achieve It9 (Devin-Adair Co., New York, N.Y.) has an intriguing ring. First, Prof. Pei proves the need for an international language for the world. Although all of his arguments are well known to any well informed Esperantist, it is important that a man as well informed as he concerning languages in general should present to the public an understanding of why is that in this age of radio, airplanes, movies and intercontinental rockets, a single language for world wide intercommuni- cation becomes more necessary from day to day, and that the English language (or any other of the 'world languages', such as Russian, or French, or Chinese, etc.) cannot fulfill that task. Showing that a single world language is absolutely necessary for global under- standing, Dr. Pei analizes the advantages of various existent languages for choice as the universal language. He compares the number of persons who use the major lan- guages, the spread of the languages, their commercial, cultural, political and miii- raty values, etc., also their special difficulties and irregularities which might prevent their adoption for world wide use. He also accents the political and emotional barriers which must be overcome if there is to be fulfillment of the dream of international, voluntary acceptance of any of the principal world languages as the single second lan- guage for use by everyone in general communication. He does not forget to mention several times that none of the principal world lan- guages could be used as the language for world communication without thorough revi- sion of its phonetic and grammatical patterns. If we were to do this to such languages as English or Russian, then, for this necessary reform, we would make English difficult for English speakers, or Russian for Russians. What is a simplification in the eyes of non-Englishmen or non-Russians would appear to be a ridiculous montrosity to the eyes of those persons who have spoken and loved their language as their own. This does not seem to be a very successful road to an international world lan- guage. Other roads proposed are the combination of two or three languages (e.g. English and French) into one language system, or the choice of several languages for regional use. Dr. Pei shows that none of these proposals would solve the problemof worldwide communication. Simplified ancient languages (especially revisions of Latin) have often been suggested, but none of the suggestions has gained widespread interest. There must also be taken into consideration that since the time that Latin was in prac- tical use, so many new expressions have been introduced into everyday use that revi- sions of Latin become strongly non-Latin and artificial if they reflect modern life. Renovated ancient languages cannot solve the problem. Esperanto Review, 5615 Woodlawn, Chicago 37, Illinois, U.S.A. 1 Only a constructed language remains as a solution to the world language problem. There are several possible roads in this respect also: first, we could construct a lan- guage on the basis of mathematical logic, or we could construct a language more or less similar to the 'natural' languages, only more systematic. Several languages have been proposed utilizing the first principle, but they have all proved to be unspeakable and impractical. Hundreds of languages constructed on the second principle have been proposed, although only a small number have been brought to the attention of the public. These 'constructed' languages may be divided into the following groups: a. those based on one, two, or a few languages from the same group, or those whose authors have attempted to mix elements from diverse, often quite dissimilar languages with the intention of making the new language 'neutral', b. those intended by their authors chiefly for communication among scientists and other specialists, or those intended for general international use. In the opinion of Prof. Pei, Interlingua is the best adapted constructed language for use among scientists and similar persons, while Esperanto is most suited for general use among all people. But he does not decide for the choice of either one or the other. He urges the selection and introduction of one language as the second language for everyone in the world, and he proposes that an intensive educational program be undertaken by all who recognize the need for a world language. He believes that these persons should not limit their endeavors at present at any one solution for the problem, such as the selection of English or Russian, or another 'natural' language, or of Espe- ranto or Interlingua or another constructed language, but that the final choice should be left to an international conference convened for this purpose by such a body as the U.N. The language to be chosen by this world language conference will be revised, if necessary, and if a national language is selected it must be simplified and regular- ized in regard to its phonetics, grammar, etc. Then thousands of teachers in each nation must learn the official international 'secondary' language, so as to be prepared to teach it to children both in the pre-school and elementary school years. Dr. Pei believes that the experience of teachers has shown that children can learn any language easily, so it is of no great importance what language is selected as the single international language; it is only when children become ten years old or older that they find learning a new language to be difficult. He therefore proposes that the international language is not to be required of adults, but that only those who wish to study it will undergo instruction. For children instruction is to be required along with other required subjects, such as arithmetic and the reading and writing of their native language. Dr. Pei even believes that it is not too important whether the language to be chosen is easy or not (although he, of course, prefers a simple, phonetic, regular lan- guage), since for children no language is difficult. He appears to forget that before 2 Esperanto Review, 5615 Woodlawn, Chicago 37, Illinois, U.S.A. children can learn the language hundreds of thousands of adults must learn it and reach a degree of perfection in the use of the language, if they are to teach it to the children, and for these pioneer teachers, even in Dr. Pei's view, simplicity, regularity, phonetics, and logic are certainly of great importance. Consequently, although I agree with Prof. Pei that an educational campaign for the introduction of a single world language is more urgent now than education for one or another specific language (e.g. Esperanto), I think that we should also stress the system which we consider the most suited, for if the day comes when the governments of the nations of the world actually do decide upon the introduction of a single world language, a suitable and developed system must be ready. We must, of course, also be ready to accept another suitable system or revisions found to be necessary in Esperanto, as Zamenhof himself said (that if a world language more suitable than Esperanto were to be found he would certainly accept it, for it is more important that we have a single world language which works than none or several competing languages). And if I read between the lines of his book, Prof. Pei, although he wishes to remain outside the dispute over which language is to be the international language, personally believes that Esperanto or a language very similar to Esperanto will eventually win out. Prof. Pei's book is well worth the reading both for Esperantists and non-Esperan- tists. Although it is not intended to serve as a guide to Esperanto but rather as a guide to the world language problem in general, it can nevertheless serve to promote interest 1X1 EsPerant0- Karl Nell ESPERANTO IN THE PRESS NOVAJ ADRESOJ TRIBUNE CHRONICLE, Warren, Ohio, announced the new Esperanto class for be- ginners, in the public library and reported on the regional meeting of Esperantists in western Pa., eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. FRESNO BEE, Fresno, Calif., letter from Riverdale Esperantist. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, Calif, letter headed KARA AMIKO. from Marion Forest in Palo Alto, on friendliness of average persons and the immaturity of their leaders in government. Panĉo Doneis, P.O.Box 362, Mino- qua, Wisconsin. Dr. Howard French, TUS LOG Det.20 TAF Language School, APO 224,