NEWS OF THE LANGUAGE PROBLEM AND ESPERANTO AS A SOLUTION Bimonthly organ of the Esperanto League for North America, Inc., Box 1129, El Cerrito, CA 94530, U.S.A. Telephone: [415] 653-0998. EdHor: Harold R. Dreyer. Includes promotional section in English and informational section in Esperanto for ELNA members. ISSN 0030-5065. Vol. 13, Nos. 4-5. July-Oct. 1977. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 22, 1977 I send warmest greetings to the delegates at this Twenty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Esperanto League for North America. Improved communication among individuals and nations is one of the key ways of building greater international understanding and goodwill. I applaud your efforts to contribute to this goal and wish you a highly productive and successful session. A FIRST FOR ESPERANTO IN THE UNITED STATES - JUBILEE ELNA CONGRESS GREETED BY PRESIDENT CARTER INSIDE: DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNESCO ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ESPERANTO AT REYKJAVIK, ICELAND f SOCIOLINGUIST EXTENDS A HAND: ACADEMIC FORUM ON ESPERANTO AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY As part of the 25th Annual Congress of the Esperanto League for North America held this year at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, an academic forum was held featuring Dr. Roger Shuy of the Department of Linguistics of Georgetown University and the Center for Applied Linguistics. The topic discussed was "Sociolinguistics and the study of Esperanto." Dr. Shuy, as an open-minded newcomer to Esperanto, first addressed himself to the frequent charges that linguists have expressed little concern for Esperanto. He proposed that linguists, including sociolinguists, have their own specialized interests and research priorities, and furthermore their own political and social objectives, which may take priority to interest in Esperanto. Also, sociolinguistics is a new and undermanned field. Next, Dr. Shuy outlined basic concepts and concerns of sociolinguistics. Sociolinguistics is concerned with variation in language and the social factors that influence it. Language is far from being a simple right-wrong affair. Language in actual usage is spread along a continuum of usage and acceptability in phonology (sound system), grammar, and choice of vocabulary. People make conscious and unconscious choices in adjusting their speech to the demands of different social contexts. Sociolinguists are also concerned with the functions of language, attitudes toward language varieties and their speakers, and the application of sociolinguistic knowledge to educational and political decision- making. Dr. Shuy then made suggestions as to how sociolinguistic concepts could be applied to the study of Esperanto. Among the aspects of Esperanto to be investigated mentioned are the nature of the variation which exists in the production of phonological and grammatical forms, the semantic continuum, the variation in functions or uses of Esperanto, the tolerable limits of variation, and what contitutes stigmatized Esperanto. The most promising involvement of sociolinguists with Esperanto is in the area of language teaching, according to Dr. Shuy. However, Esperantists must clarify the linguistic claims of Esperanto, particularly in regardto linguistic simplicity and ease of learning. There is no convincing proof that Esperanto is simpler or more easily learned than other languages. Linguistic simplicity is most difficult to define or determine. Application of mistaken notions of ease, simplicity, and clarity has resulted in poor teaching materials. Esperantists should avoid making claims or arguments based on purported inherent linguistic qualities of Esperanto. A better claim for Esperanto might be based on social simplicity. The advantage here is that Esperanto is purely an instrumental language, not an integrative one (i.e., carrying the motivation to assimilate into another culture). Esperanto is not learned in a socio-political or emotional context. Dr. Shuy described the situation of the educationally disadvantaged children of guest-laborers in Europe. He speculated that Esperanto could be offered to these children by school systems that do not wish to offer costly bilingual education programs in several languages and for ethnic groups who do not intend to assimilate to the host country. Esperanto could be politically and economically expedient, with an added efficiency factor if Esperanto is indeed easier to learn than other languages. Dr. Shuy cautioned that he was not advocating his idea as an educational policy but only as a worthwhile experiment to make. Another possible experimental application is the use of Esperanto in teaching concepts of literacy. The potential usefulness of Esperanto as a medium of initial literacy is totally unknown but Esperanto may be particularly useful for this purpose in third world countries where there exist predominant oral, non-written languages. Dr. Shuy concluded that to convince linguists of all the claims of Esperanto would be difficult, but linguists can be convinced by good evidence. The first discussant, Dr. William Solzbacher, member of the Esperanto Academy, concentrated on the issue of the borders of intelligibility in Esperanto. He reported on the little research that has been done in that area. Also, he emphasized the support that Esperanto has received by linguists. The second discussant, Jody Crandall, doctoral candidate in linguistics at Georgetown University, spoke on quite a few aspects of Esperanto. A newcomer to the language, she was impressed by the goal of a non-imperialistic language but felt that the claims of Esperanto needed substantiation. Ms Crandall raised serious questions concerning Esperanto. People learn English for economic, educational, and social reasons, regardless of their feelings about it. Can Esperanto provide similar motivations? It is dubious that governments could impose the study of Esperanto. How can Esperanto preserve itself as a standard language and avoid becoming dialectalized, especially if it gains acceptance? Academies have little influence. Ms Crandall claimed that the evidence indicates that native language literacy is essential and that using Esperanto to teach literacy would be unfortunate. She nevertheless thought that Esperanto has great educational value. The third discussant, Ralph Dumain, a student in the linguistics department at the State University of New York at Buffalo, expressed a desire to respond to the points made by Ms Crandall but confined himself to his prepared remarks on Dr. Shuy's lecture. Mr. Dumain acknowledged valuable ideas presented by Dr. Shuy, expressed appreciation for Dr. Shuy's serious consideration of Esperanto from a sociolinguistic perspective, and attempted to clear up some matters on Esperanto. He claimed that regularity, not simplicity, is a property of Esperanto and regularity contributes to ease of learning. He also briefly described other linguistic and a few sociolinguistic and political aspects of Esperanto. The moderator of the forum, Dr. E. J ames Lieberman, added his comments. He disputed Mr. Dumain's claim that Esperanto- speakers are not stigmatized for using the language improperly. Dr. Lieberman stated that as an Esperantist he has experienced stigmatization for speaking Esperanto incorrectly and that Esperantists do not like to hear their language butchered. He also claimed that the ability to perceive speech plays an important part in language learning in addition to motivation. According to Dr. Lieberman, linguistic change in Esperanto will be retarded by the standardizing effect of modern communications media. Dr. Shuy in his final remarks made several points, some of which are mentioned below. He emphasized that he approaches sociolinguistics with a linguistic emphasis. Others have a sociological emphasis?"* It is good to hear that Esperanto has variability; no language can exist without it. Language change is not to be feared. To remedy the lack of communication between linguists and Esperantists, arguments which will interest linguists should be used; for example, consistency or regularity is a good notion. The study of the acquisition of Esperanto, particularly by children, would thrill linguists and would attract researchers without fail. The electronic media have little standardizing effect on language usage. Real people are models for usage, not TV. A list of myths about Esperanto would be useful to linguists. Finally, Dr. Shuy expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to extend his hand as Mr. Dumain had expressed. It is time for rapproachment between academics and Esperantists, he said. Many linguists are interested in Esperanto and are waiting for evidence presented from a linguistic perspective. Indeed, rapproachment turned out to be the theme of the evening's forum. Dr. Shuy, with limited background knowledge of Esperanto, seriously attempted to investigate possibilities for sociolinguistic study of the language and also to indicate what kind of researches have the greatest potential. The panel discussion was a great stimulus to the participants themselves, whose interest in Esperanto research was excited by the exchange of information. It was also a good experience for the audience, which included Esperantists and non-Esperantists, who as a result of this forum gained a more sophisticated understanding of language. Several members of the audience approached the panelists after the conclusion of the discussion to express their appreciation of the event. Evidently, it was a success. ...Ralph Dumain THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE WINS MAJOR RECOGNI- TION IN ITS 90TH YEAR A thousand speakers of Esperanto from 41 countries met in Reykjavik, Iceland this August to discuss problems of world communication. The 62nd World Congress of Esperanto needed no interpreters, no machinery for simultaneous translation. Cultural, scientific, business and social facets of the Congress all took place using Esperanto as the sole and complete linguistic medium. The right to communication (the conference theme), tourism, mathematics, sports, medicine, and the women's movement across the globe were among the topics formally discussed during the week-long congress, and the Icelandic National Theatre presented the celebrated play Inuk in Esperanto. Esperanto first appeared in 1887, ninety years ago, and has been a living, working language ever since. Three generations of use have molded but not fundamentally changed Esperanto, which is the only planned language to be adopted by a worldwide community of speakers. Two world wars and the demise of the League of Nations held back but did not stop the movement for a politically neutral, easy-to-Iearn second language for interna- tional communication. The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow, addressed the opening session of the Esperanto congress. In conferring this important recognition, Mr. M'Bow stressed the need for equality among languages, and among all peoples in the right to communicate, and hailed the efforts of Esperanto speakers to achieve this goal. During the customary ceremony in which representatives of national Esperanto organizations salute the international congress, Wm. R. Harmon, President of the Esperanto League for North America, Inc., the national organization of Esperanto speakers in the United States, reported proudly that U.S. President Jimmy Carter had just given a boost to Esperanto in the United States by sending a personal message applauding that group's efforts toward improved communication among indivi- duals and nations. The international congress in Reykjavik was honored by the participation of Kristjan Eldjarn, President of Iceland, and by many other government officials and diplomats including the Minister of Culture of Iceland and the Mayor of Reykjavik. An active participant in the congress during the entire week was Hon. Ralph Harry, Australian ambassador to the United Nations, a fluent speaker of Esperanto. The international achievement award for the past year went to the J apan Esperanto Institute, a further testimonial to the growth of Esperanto in the non-Western world. In 1978, the 63rd World Esperanto Congress will take place in Varna, Bulgaria. SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON THE 62ND ANNUAL ESPERANTO CONVENTION IN REYKJAVIK, ICELAND On July 31 st the city of Reykjavik, Iceland was invaded by more than one thousand Esperanto-speakers from over 40 countries. In a city of 80,000 people which imports just about everything it uses except lamb and fish, for a week a good part of its population was also imported. This convention was notable because, for the first time, some important non-Esperanto-speakers came to observe, and marvel, at an amazing human phenomenon—people from all continents engaging in business and pleasure using only the international language. The Director-General of UNESCO, the Hon. Amadou- Mahtar M'Bow of Senegal, addressed the conventioneers on this year's United Nations theme: The Right to Communicate, emphasizing that "...the task of UNESCO is the strengthening of world peace, understanding among peoples, and cooperation between nations. Esperanto historically has been devoted to the same principle." Leonard Sussman of FREEDOM HOUSE, which is an organization dedicated to the right which journalists hold precious—the right to be informed and to inform, spoke at the closing ceremonies. Mr. Sussman, interpreted into Esperanto by the Hon. Ralph Harry, Australian Ambassador to the United Nations, began apologetically by saying that, although he was there in his capacity as an expert on communication, he was the only person present with a communication problem. Major addresses in Esperanto were made by Vilhjalmur Halmarsson, the Icelandic Minister of Culture; Birgir Isleifur Cunnarsson, Mayor of Reykjavik, and the Honorable Ralph Harry, an authority on the law of the sea. In dealing with the convention theme—The Right To Communicate—members became aware that this is a pervasive, complex problem throughout the world. While language diversity is an important barrier to communication, which Esperantists are dedicated to erasing, there are others which require the continued vigilance of all. For reports on the International Summer University lectures and the excellent theatre and social events which crowded into the week, we recommend that readers turn to the Esperanto press. ...Catherine L. Schulze EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH DEPT. [Oops!! Division] Advertising officials of Master Builders recently retained a university professor who is a specialist in oriental languages to translate into Japanese an ad headline which read "Tower of Strength." The message involved a 656-foot high earthquake- proof concrete tower for an insurance company in Tokyo. Subsequently a tear sheet of the published ad was sent to Master Builders' joint venture partners in Tokyo asking how many reprints they would like. In due course the answer came back: "Japanese headline translates 'Tower Without Power.' One copy sufficient." ZAMENHOF COIN TO APPEAR The Polish coin magazine Biuletyn Numizmatyczny in issue 9/117 indicates that 50,000 Zamenhof Zlotys will be placed into circulation in 1980. More information on this coin, which will surely be sought by Esperanto-speaking numismatists world- wide, will be furnished later on. NOMS DE PLUME (Continued from last issue) Also within this general category are the rather numerous instances of change from one ethnic-language name to another in the same language. A typical example is the Bulgarian Asen Crigorov (1903 - ), who became the equally Bulgarian Marin Ljubin. Then there are changes from one language to another. A general trend is away from recognizably Jewish names. In England one also notes the change in the 1930's, a period of understandable unpopularity of Germany, by the Cerman- surnamed Englishman K.R.C. Sturmer to the more typically English Kenelm Robinson. The contemporary Esperanto poet, residing in the United States, Julius Balbin, changed his name when in his native Poland from the original Lowy, officially citing in his legal application to the Polish authorities for change of name registration the desire to abandon a name of partial German origin and German connotation (Ger. Lowe "Lion") and invented the name Balbin, based in part upon the forename of his mother and upon Latin and other roots, bearing in mind also the ease of pronunciation of the chosen name in several different languages including Esperanto. A second, and more specifically Esperantist, group of adoptive names is formed by those which are in partial or total agreement with the phonology and morphology of Esperanto, or which are generally meaningful in that language. To be totally acceptable in Esperanto, such names must, like all other nouns, end in -o. The Czech writer of Jewish background, who as a refugee in the 1930's moved to the Netherlands, in changing his nationality legally changed his name to its Esperanto equivalent in form and meaning. The original Sigmund Prager upon attaining Dutch citizenship became Sigismundo Pragano. The suffix -ano, it may be noted, indicates citizenship or residency of a country, city, etc. Others have adopted only partially Esperantized names. For example, the American Charles R.L. Power uses the pseudonym Karl Pov, dropping the obligatory substantival ending in both elements. Pov, or rather Povo "power," is a literal translation of the apparent meaning of his surname. An interesting name, partially meaningful in Esperanto and partially Esperanto in form, is that of the German Herbert F. Hoveler, a writer in the early 1900's. He is remembered as E. Cefec, a palindrome which is said to have been based upon the English pronunciation of his initials H-F-H, themselves palindromic in type. The word ĉefa "chief" is connotated, as is the particle eĉ"even." Hoveler was the originator of the Keys to Esperanto—basic guides to the language-explained in many other languages—and the Cefeĉ Keys are still so called today. Such pseudonyms as V. Elsudo, "from the South," are typical of this category. Although they do not carry the ideological or philosophical content of the Esperanto movement or culture, they are meaningful in Esperanto and formed from its component morphemes. Elsudo was the pseudonym of the pamphleteer V. Kolcinskii (Soviet Union) active in the 1920's. The third and most innovative type of Esperanto literary pseudonym is the pen name of both Esperanto form and content, derived from the history, symbolism and cultural feeling of Cemeinschaft of the language itself. The earliest such name, Dr. Esperanto, "hoper, one who hopes," is the prototype of the third category. Such names are divided between pen names and the noms de guerre, as one might say, of movement activists, particularly the militant anti-nationalist of the 1920's, a time when extreme radical tendencies, a strong movement in the recently-formed Soviet Union, etc., brought Esperantism into contact with general left-wing radicalism and the workers' movement in Europe and the Far East. Within the movement founded by Zamenhof, it is natural that some of his later followers should have adopted the Esperanto form of his more commonly used forename, Ludoviko. Thus the Hungarian poet now active as Lajos Tarkony wrote in the 1930's as Ludoviko Totsche. There is some erotic poetry in the international language, some of it of a ribald, slightly pornographic nature but of great linguistic and other interest, e.g. the Sekretaj Sonetoj (Secret Sonnets). These are truly pseudonymous works, the identity of their author, Peter Peneter, being a matter of dispute for the last forty years. The reference in the ribald pen name is to the male sexual organ. Amusingly, a sequel to the Sonetoj of the 1930's was recently published, the author now hiding under the pseudonym of Peterido "offspring of Peter." The suffix -ido has long carried sharp connotations in Esperantist circles, in such words, since the schismatic movement known as Ido which split the ranks of supporters of the International Language in the 1900's. Peter Peneter—whose name, lacking the final -o, is not totally Esperanto in style—is undoubtedly the best known genuinely pseudonymous author in the language. The symbolism of the movement is chiefly that of hope, espero, and its flag and emblem, the green star, verda stelo. The literature is thus reflected with such pseudonyms as Verdulo, "green one," Verdstelulo "green-star wearer," and the like. This necessarily brief discussion of pseudonymic practices among authors writing originally in the International Language has presented only an introduction to a fascinating field of literary onomastics. It has intentionally refrained from citing numerous examples which would perhaps merely have obscured the general onomastic principles involved and which would have required detailed knowledge of Esperanto and other languages. The Enciklopedio de Esperanto (Budapest, 1933-34), contains a list of 85 pseudonyms of well-known Esperantists of that date and earlier, approximately a third of them being figures of literary significance. It may be noted that less than half are totally in accordance with Esperanto phonology and orthography. Today's students of the Esperanto movement now await the forthcoming totally new Enciklopedio to be edited by Ulrich Lins. Among many other topics, it will certainly reflect the developments in Esperanto onomastics in the last forty years. In further work in this field it might be fruitful to undertake a comparison with the adoptive names of Hebrew writers both in Europe and in Israel, since the Esperanto and Zionist movements both arose in Eastern Europe at the end of the nineteenth century; at times. Lazarus Ludovic Zamenhof was indeed active in both simultaneously. A different field of comparative work might be in the adoptive names of millenarian and Utopian communities. [Reproduced by permission of Literary Onomastics Studies, published at State University College, Brockport, NY] [Ed. note: Sigmund Prager [later Sigismundo Pragano] was a Romanian, not a Czech Esperantist as stated in the article. We thank Dr. Wood for bringing this correction to our attention.] THANKS TO THE UNKNOWN HELPER One of our readers recently placed a notice in the Polish language periodical Cwiazda Polarna informing readers that they could send SOxents in stamps to ELNA for a copy of Esperanto for Beginners and Esperanto Key. This notice resulted in many inquiries. This example could well be followed by others who regularly subscribe to or read other ethnic newspapers or magazines. And our hearty thanks to the unknown helper! FROM THE PRESIDENT OF ELNA: Just prior to the 25th annual ELNA Congress in Washington, D.C. this July, a letter was received from an outstanding Iranian Esperantist who, during the year past, has succeeded in establishing classes and clubs in an area in which little activity on behalf of the international language was evident. More than 2,000 students have learned or are learning Esperanto in Iran during a very short period of time. Dr. Saheb-Zamani's letter presents a point of view common among his young students, and the issues raised are certainly worthy of serious thought by those of us engaged in the cause of furthering Esperanto in the so-called "first world." His letter is here reproduced in its entirety. I translated the letter into Esperanto during the World Congress of Esperanto at Reykjavik this past August, and gave copies to a number of officials of the international organization UEA so that the issues raised in the letter might be considered on an international basis as well. Any comments or suggestions from ELNA members or other friends of Esperanto would be welcome, and if sent to me will be forwarded to international officials concerned. Open Letter to the Esperanto Jubilee Congress July 1,1977 Gentlemen: On this auspicious occasion of the 25th anniversary of the American Esperanto association, we rejoice with you in celebrating the success which the Esperanto movement has achieved, both in the U.S.A. and abroad. As you are aware, this movement, after 50 years of quiescence in Iran, has entered upon a springtime of rapid growth. In less than two years, we have witnessed not only an unprecedented development in Esperanto classes, but also a generous and sympathetic coverage by the Iranian press, radio and television, of the whole Esperanto enterprise in Iran and elsewhere. Within the past eight months alone, over 2000 students, of all ages and from all walks of life, have been enrolled in Teheran University's free Esperanto classes. And not a week goes by without some mention of the movement in the news media. From the vantage-point of a very close involvement in the Esperanto movement in this country, and a familiarity with its activities in other parts of the world, we would like to share with you some of our concerns and convictions about the future of Esperanto, in the Third World above all, but also in the rest of the world. It may be that for Esperantists in the West, this program represents a marginal, spare-time interest. But for us in the Third World — which embraces a majority of the world's population, and bids fair to become the center stage of international concern even in our own lifetime — the question of communication and inter-people understanding, and the crucial role of Esperanto in this context, are urgent and critical matters. It is no exaggeration to say that the Third World faces a cultural life-or-death situation, which we Esperantists must take very seriously. We therefore wish to state, respectfully but firmly, that all who are guiding the Esperanto movement must be made aware of this situation, take hold of a new vision of our responsibility, in the light of the present and growing crisis of communication, and the desperate need for an adequate and acceptable universal language. The burden for this falls most heavily on Western Esperantists, however much those in the Third must also be involved. We have an urgent mission to carry forward. Nothing less than a thorough missionary effort, motivated by a missionary concern and spirit, and undergirded with adequate resources, will suffice. It is here that Esperanto associations in the developed and privileged countries of the West have a special responsibility to provide initiative and resources for the task. Coupled with this, there must be a persuasive demonstration of authentic worth and usefulness of Esperanto, everywhere. Permit us to comment on several very practical matters which we feel deserve immediate and serious cooperative effort. Firstly, although there are more than 80 different teaching texts available, we still do not have one which can be used universally. A standard text, carefully prepared and attractively printed and presented, is an absolute essential. Such a text must reflect the serious intention and practical usefulness of Esperanto, for we are constantly faced with the necessity of battling skepticism and rejection with inadequate evidence and demonstration. Secondly, we notice that there are very few standard works —' apart from general literature — available in Esperanto. Our experience is that serious students of Esperanto come to the end of their learning experience, only to find that there is little of interest or value to read. Literary works have their merit, but in the Third World people are hungry for more solid nourishment. They want to be able to keep abreast of intellectual and scientific development through Esperanto; they had expected that, having learned this language, they would not need to spend valuable time and money on learning another foreign language in order to do this. Unless something is done, very soon, in this area, the Esperanto movement will not only falter, but will be rejected by the Third World as a viable instrument for the achieving of their goals. Such an eventuality will be to the detriment and loss of the whole world, but especially to the West, which has so much to offer. Surely, in view of the fact that Esperanto has rootage in over 90 countries around the world, there is a sufficient market for serious works in Esperanto. And surely, too, in order to finance such an undertaking, it is possible to mobilize the resources of world-minded humanitarians and philanthropists, and religious and cultural associations. Thirdly, we believe that the whole area of Esperanto periodical literature needs evaluation and corrective action. To be sure, we derive much profit and pleasure from a study of the Esperanto magazines now being published. But we find them much too parochial and inward-looking. News and articles on matters of general interest, but in Esperanto, we find lacking. Third World Esperantists look to these periodicals for resources with which to deal with their pressing intellectual and cultural problems. Finally, we would like to make some general suggestions relating to the total Esperanto program. (1) Friends of the movement have raised some very thoughtful and important questions (see Appendix). These must be taken seriously. Research and reflection, aimed at the formulation of adequate answers, for use by interpreters and advocates of Esperanto, are a high priority. (2) The translation of Esperanto literature into local languages, to show the richness and vitality of Esperanto, must receive attention. (3) The effort to keep Esperanto before the public, in the developed as well as developing nations, must be sustained and upgraded. The use of mass media, the writing of "Letters to the Editor" (to elicit information about Esperanto in the readership), the submission of book reviews of Esperanto literature to key newspapers (like the New York Times Literary Supplement), and the like, can be of tremendous help. (4) For the world Esperanto community, a comprehensive report of Esperanto programs in each of the countries in which they exist, would be a boon. [Continued on page 8] Mary Catherine Sears [left] and Doris Valkm discuss the international language with Dr. Shahin Oliya of Tehran and M.K. Raina of the National Institute of Education, New Delhi. Mr. Raina was one of the speakers in the 2nd World Conference for teachers of the gifted at San Francisco July 27 - August 2. WORLD COUNCIL FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN Initiated by Cizella Edwards (who teaches Esperanto to several hundred children in Tampa, Florida's program for the gifted) at the invitation of Dr. Dorothy Sisk, Director of the Office of Gifted and Talented, HEW, Washington, a workshop on "Rapid Communication Via Esperanto, the International Multi-cultural Language" by Doris Vallon, assisted by Mary Catherine Sears, drew several interested teachers. Robert Swain, Conference Chairman, of the University of San Francisco where it was held, in his welcome to delegates said: "Our manifesto is hope...we wish to prepare our young so they might preserve, nurture, educate, and govern the peoples of the earth. In a sentence, we bequeath them a legacy of hope, respect and dignity, that they might actively practice that concern with their neighbors." And that, in essence, is what Esperanto is all about. .. .Catherine Schulze ESPERANTO IN THE PRESS [Frivolous Dept.] The Wall Street Journal for J une 23,1977 published a lengthy but rather silly front-page article by staff reporter Barry Newman under the sophomoric title "Guess What 99.997% of World's People Have in Common — It's Ignorance of Esperanto; But the Other .003% Still Hope to Change All That." The article was based on a single visit to a rather sparsely-attended meeting of the Wellington, New Zealand Esperanto Club on a cold winter night. Although the article was replete with misinformation about the international language, it nevertheless drew enough attention to cause a number of readers to seek out Esperanto contacts through telephone books and libraries, with the result that the ELNA Central Office has received a number of inquiries. A number of American Esperanto-speakers wrote to the Journal pointing out the poor reportage, including Dr. Richard Wood who suggested to the Journal that a meeting of, say, the Wellington English-Speaking Union or Alliance Francaise (if they in fact exist there) would, on a similar night, have had a similarly unimpressive attendance and program. A Tetter from Dr. Humphrey Tonkin, President of UEA, was printed by the Journal in its "Letters to the Editor" column several weeks after the appearance of the unfortunate article. Several officers of ELNA and even a Viennese Esperanto-speaker wrote in protest. One may hope that at least the editors of the Wall Street Journal are now aware that articles distorting the facts about Esperanto cannot be printed with impunity. THE SCHOONER NAMED ESPERANTO ELNA-member Ellen A. Lewis of Brookline, MA, was browsing through a book store in New England and found an interesting story about a schooner named Esperanto. It seems that the Gloucestermen of Cape Ann and the Canadians had been rivals in fishing for years; but in 1920 they escalated the ancient rivalry into an international competition — perhaps an excellent way of letting off steam and avoiding bad blood. The Canadians set down the terms for the races; it was said that this gave them a certain advantage. Gloucester was given ten days to get a boat to Halifax ready to race. The Gloucester fleet was out to sea fishing, and there was no radio at the time; but just in the nick of time one of the Gloucestermen appeared — the Esperanto, a schooner built in 1906 which had served her various masters well raackereling, haddocking, halibuting, shacking, seining and codfishing. Although it was strange for a Gloucester ship to be named for an international language, it was a portent in the race — for the Esperanto was going to say things on the high seas that every mariner could understand. Captain Martin Welch was chosen to race her. With Captain Welch at the wheel, the Esperanto won two races hands down and took off with the trophy and a cash prize. The first race was held October 30, 1920, over a 40-mile triangular course. The Esperanto finished eighteen minutes and twenty-eight seconds ahead of the Canadian vessel Delawanna. The night before the second race, November 1, 1920, the Novascotians lightened their ballast in hopes of a light breeze. They got one, but it didn't help; the Novascotian vessel got away first but on the final leg, the daring of the Gloucester skipper and the speed of the Esperanto made the difference. She won the second race by seven minutes and twenty-five seconds. Seven months after her great victory, the Esperanto suffered the fate of many a fishing schooner; in May of 1921 she struck a submerged wreck off Sable Island and went down. She was 15 years old; the language Esperanto was then 34 years old, and although the international language has gone on to world-wide recognition in the years since, there are still some who remember, in Cape Ann, the great victory of the schooner named Esperanto. This story was reported in the book Cape Ann: Cape America by Herbert A. Kenny, J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia & N.Y., 1971. ESPERANTO SUGGESTED FOR TRANSLATION OF WATER RESOURCE ARTICLES ELNA member R. Kent Jones is the co-author of a paper on "Language Constraints to Water Resource Utilization" pub- lished in the August, 1977 issue of Water Resources Bulletin, the journal of the American Water Resources Association. Jones, Principal Civil Engineer of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago, and a board member of the Esperanto League for North America, Inc., points out in the paper the tremendous waste of time and energy attempting to deal with the diffusion of scientific knowledge through translation into numerous national languages. The paper further cites the problems of incomplete diffusion of knowledge, technical inbreeding, unsatisfactory international conferences and un- standardized technical terminology through the use of numerous ethnic languages. The co-author with Jones is John T. Dale, J r., Pollution Control Officer of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago. F1NANCA RAPORTO DE ELNA ENSPEZOJ Centra Oficejo: Libroservo: Vendode libroj ktp Kontoj pagotaj Poŝto Prof ito de abonperado Reklamoj en NL SUMO: Koresponda Kurso enspezo ELNA krom Centra Oficejo: Kotizoj: Individua (346) Familia(54) Junula(19) Studenta (46) Emerita (96) Amortiza porcio Dumviva SUMO Interezo Donacoj al CO Profito, 1976 Kongreso SUMO FISKAJAR01976-1977 $16,205.27 1,291.32 619.05 89.24 11.00 ENSPEZA SUMO Varoj acetitaj ELSPEZOJ Salajro: direktoro Kromsalajraj kostoj Lupago, Centra Oficejo Asekuro Telefono Poŝto Presigo: Newsletter Oficejaj provizoj Presigo: Libroservo Of iceja mebloj Masina riparo Materialoj por senpaga disdono Cazetoj por membroj Reklamoj Transportado Bankaj kostoj SUMO UEA membreckosto Leĝaj kostoj Imposto (Delaware) Of icistaj elspezoj Eksteraj rilatoj Antaŭpago -1977 Kongreso SUMOELSPEZA 18,215.88 477.80 5,048.00 675.00 121.25 330.00 720.00 337.45 7,231.70 1,125.54 3,388.78 1,409.70 5,924.02 31,849.40 $14,142.% 9,173.10 258.80 1,725.00 200.00 426.51 1,236.98 1,293.08 1,292.49 56.19 335.36 45.00 444.85 34.50 78.00 180.32 39.51 16,819.69 124.16 15.00 10.00 625.76 37.80 28.76 31,804.13 E-1 ELNA HAVAJO JE 30a JUNIO 1977 Cekkontoj: Bank of Calif. Portland R Crocker Bank San Mateo Sparkontoj: Eiank of Calif. Portland F:ar West S&L Portland SUMO: Debito: Dumviva Konto Uzebla kapitalo SUMO Valoro de Libroserva Inventaro je 6/30/77 [jc vendopreza nivelo] $1,233.49 153.49 14,682.84 6,940.12 23,009.94 6,411.55 16,598.39 23,009.94 $24,300.00 OFIC1ALAJ AGOJ, DECIDOj DE LA 25A ELNA-KONGRESO ELEKTO DE OF1CISTO) DE ELNA POR 1977-1978: (1/4 balotiloj ricevitaj, 170 validaj) Se