ELNA UPDA TE Esperanto League for North America a Box 1129, El Cerrito, CA 94530 a (510) 653-0998 Issue #1, 1993 WORLD LANGUAGE & WORLD LANGUAGE PROB- LEMS_____________________ IMPORTANCE OF GERMAN INCREASING The future of German in Central Europe and elsewhere is looking brighter after the fall of communism. In the German newspaper Die Welt (15 Dec. 1992) French linguist Claude Hagege stated why he be- lieves German will play an ever more im- portant role in the world. Hagege noted that the fall of communism has brought the language situation in central Europe back to the way it was 800 years ago, when the Hanseatic League spread the use of German in its territories. Hagege thinks that the use of German will continue to increase in the region now that Germany is united again and firmly democratic. The first sign of that, he said, is that the Czech minister of culture decided that German must be a mandatory subject for school-leaving ex- ams, instead of English. The linguist is convinced that Eng- lish will not be a truly international lan- guage because events are working against it: the number of Spanish speakers in the U.S. is continually growing; Japan will soon want to spread Japanese culture and lan- guage, as well as Japanese products, and French will maintain its position in Medi- terranean countries. Hagege concluded by saying that French students ought to select German as their first foreign language, because "it's superfluous to learn English." In a related story, the Italian news- paper La Stampa published an article about an open letter sent to Italian high school students by the Italian Association of Teachers of German. The letter gave five reasons why Italian students should learn German. These were: German has historical importance in studying math, physics, philosophy, art and music; hundreds of important German companies have business relations with Italy; German is the most widely spoken language in Europe and the second most studied language in the former Soviet Union and Japan; a knowledge of German is demanded more and more in the Italian labor market; German is taught with modern methods, is not difficult and helps to strengthen one's knowledge of Italian. [Heroldo de Esperanto, Feb. 16, 1993, Mar. 4 1993) LINGUISTIC CHAOS IN EEC The European Economic Community (EEC) was formed in 1957 by six countries that made four languages official for EEC business: French, German, Italian and Dutch. Later Britain and other countries joined, raising the number of member- countries to 12 and the number of official languages to 9. With the possibility of other countries (Sweden, Finland, Hungary and Poland) soon to join the EEC, the number of official languages will grow as well. But even before that happens, the EEC may be reaching its limit on the number of transla- tors and interpreters. Even now Danes, Greeks and Portuguese are sometimes asked to listen to interpretation in languages other than their own, because of a lack of inter- preters. The Commission and Advisory Coun- cil of the EEC, the European Investment Bank and the Social Advisory Council use 385 employees for interpreting alone; in addition, they have 1443 interpreters in reserve. On average 600 interpreters work each day in these organizations at a cost of 2 billion Belgian franks annually. At the same time, Germans are de- manding that their language be more widely used in EEC organizations, which would lead to even higher expenses. {Heroldo de Esperanto, Feb. 18, 1993) INTERNATIONAL TO NEWS ESPERAN UMBERTO ECO SUPPORTS ESPERANTO Umberto Eco, the author of the in- ternational bestsellers The Name of the Rose and Foucalt's Pendulum, recently came out in support of Esperanto. Eco was a lecturer at the College de France in Paris, where he gave a series of lectures on the topic "The Search for a Perfect Language." Eco also mentioned Esperanto favorably during a talk at the 5th International Congress of the Spanish Semeiotics Association in La Coru- na, Spain. Eco said that Esperanto should be taught in schools as the second language, because a true international language is needed, especially since English is threaten- ing the existence of other national languag- es in Europe. In a separate interview Eco told why he supports Esperanto. "From my own expe- rience, let me tell you that in my frequent trips to other countries, mainly to France and Germany, I constantly hear complaints that English has already grown out of its role as an interlanguage and has become an imperialistic danger to the national lan- guages which are losing territory to it. And I say to them: 'The matter is simple. Start teaching Esperanto to your children, and the danger will disappear."' Eco went on to say that Esperanto could succeed if it had political support. Eco's remarks were widely reported in the French and Spanish press. {Esperanto, Dec. 1992, Jan. 1993) CALENDAR OF ESPERANTO EVENTS «June 21-July 2. Gaston College, Dallas, NC. Esperanto classes. Teacher certification credit available. Contact: International Society of Friendship and Goodwill, 211 W Fourth St., P.O. Box 2637, Gastonia, NC; 28053-2637 (704) 864-7906, or (fax) (704) 867-5304. • June 28-July 1. Groves School, Birming- ham, MI. Esperanto classes. Contact Sherry Wells, P.O. Box 1338, Royal Oak, MI 48068. «June 28-July 16. San Francisco State Uni- versity, San Francisco, CA. Esperanto class- es. Some stipends available. Contact: Cathy Schulze, 410 Darrell Rd., Hillsborough, CA 94010; (415) 342-1796. «July 12-17. University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT. Esperanto classes. Contact: Hilda Grossman, Office of Summer Pro- grams, Univ. of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117; (800) 234- 4412 or (203) 768-4401. «July 17-20.41st annual ELNA convention. Will be held on the campus of the Universi- ty of Hartford, beginning right after the Esperanto classes end (see item above). Contact: ELNA, P.O. Box 1129, El Cerrito, CA 94530; (510) 653-0998. •July 24-31. Valencia, Spain. Esperanto World Congress. PLEASE NOTE: ELNA Update provides information on classes as a service to its readers. Neither ELNA Update nor ELNA are responsible for class cancellations or changes. 1993 ELNA BOOK SERVICE CATALOG This 32-page catalog details every item available from the ELNA Book Service. Books and materials are conveniently grouped by category. The Book Service catalog is sent to members and "Friends of Esperanto" at no cost. Non-members should send $2.00 (check or money order payable to ELNA). Those purchasing the catalog will receive a coupon worth $2.00 off their next order. Send payment to: Esperanto League for North America P.O. Box 1129 El Cerrito, CA 94530 Esperanto * Learning and Using the International Language, b> David Richardson, a 368 page hardbound book, published by EDNA (Esperanto League for North America), provides the best English- language : uroductk:! to Esperanto currently avai able in Lhe United -Stales. Whether you're interested in the background of Esperanto, the problem of international communication in general, or in a superior Esperanto textbook for classes or individual study, this volume will answer your needs. Includes these features; © Four detailed chaptcts covering Esperanto's history and (he pressing issues of global communication • A complete 10-lesson course with dialogues, exercises, and keys • A 128-page reader of Esperanto texts designed to introduce the reader to a wide variety of Esperanto literature • Espersnto-English Ji .tio-uary ci ever S^OfJO v. urds o Fully tUustratcd with photo.-- ttum the archives of the Li Lied Nations, Lhe World Esperanto Association, and others • Extern,-."e bibliography and full index ESP046 $%4Mt$i4,2®' Step by Step In Esperanto bv Montagu Butler has jus» been reprinted by (he Esperanto League fOf North America. Unavailable for several year'-, this classic text has been a favorite of two generations of Esperanto students. Not only docs Step r>< Step provide (he most in-depth treatment of Esperanto grammar available in a textbook for EngR-.i: - peakets, but it does so with a wry sense of humor that makes learning fun. After finishing this book y:■■'> Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Berkeley, CA Permit No. 330 ELNA Membership Benefits ♦ A bi-monthly newsletter keeping you up to date on issues of importance to Esperan- tists. ♦ The ELNA Book and Tape Service catalogs and the ELNA Membership List ♦ Discounts on most items carried by the ELNA Book and Tape Services ♦ The quarterly ELNA Update with informa- tion on the world language problem and Esperanto as its solution ♦ The satisfaction of contributing materially to the propagation of Esperanto in the U.S.A. Non-Member "Friend of Esperanto" A "Friend of Esperanto" is not a dues-pay- ing member of ELNA and therefore not eligible for the regular membership ben- efits. Instead, a "Friend" offers encourage- ment to the Esperanto movement by pro- viding financial support. A "Friend" receives: Four issues of the ELNA Update via first- class mail. ELNA Update keeps you abreast of the world language problem and Espe- ranto as its solution. A copy of the year's ELNA Book Service Catalog. ELNA MEMBERSHIP FORM Please show the type of membership or support by an X in the appropriate brackets. All memberships are on a calendar year basis, January 1 - December 31. For items marked (*) we must have your birthdate. NOTE: Your address, telephone number, and computer network address will be published in the yearly membership list unless you indicate otherwise here: Do NOT publish D address LJ" phone D network address. Name:___________________________________________________ Address:. City/State/Zip:. Phone:______ Birthdate:. Amateur Radio Call:. Computer Network Address:. 1993 ELNA Membership Categories [ ] Individual..................................$30.00 [ ] Sustaining..................................$60.00 [ ] Life(*)....................................$600.00 [ ] Youth (*Under27)....................$15.00 [ ] Limited Income.........................$15.00 [ ] Family.......................................$45.00 Other Forms of Support [ ] Friend of Esperanto...................$10.00 (non-member) [ ] Donation..............................._______ Return this form with payment to: ELNA Box 1129, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone: (510) 653-0998