ELNA UPDATE to League for Noii America 2/1996 P.O. Box 1129 ♦ El Ceritto CA 94530 ♦ USA______________________________________ISSN 1 EDUCATION ITALIAN UNIVERSITYS CORRESPONDENCE COURSE The University per Stranieri of Siena has introduced a correspondence course in Esperanto which targets future teachers who are interested in the methodology of lan- guage instruction. This course, which results in normal university credit to those who finish, came about as a result of intense lobbying by the Esperanto-Radikala Asocio. [Esperanto Feb. 1996] PORTUGAL TO INTRODUCE ESPERANTO IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS Along-standing dream of Esperanto teachers is that their local school boards would treat the International Lan- guage as any other normal subject in the schools. As you read in the last issue {ELNA Update 96/1), the French National Assembly is debating a law which will allow the teaching of Esperanto at all levels of instruction. In a more dramatic move, the Portuguese Minister of Educa- tion, Alexandre Rosa, has declared that special permission is not required to introduce Esperanto into Portuguese schools, due to the current policy of local autonomy. Rosa expressed interest in the project and guaranteed accep- tance of Esperanto instruction in any middle school where there is a qualified Esperanto teacher. Rosa said "Present a concrete proposal and you will have official Esperanto instruction. Challenge us!" [Ma Bulteno Jan. 3 1996] SELTEN TO TEACH GAME THEORY One of 1994's recipients of the Nobel Prize in economics, Reinhard Selten, will present a series of lectures in Esperanto during the Universala Kongreso in Prague this summer. The subject will be game theory and its various applications in the fields of economics, linguistics, politics, etc. [Heroldo de Esperanto Mar. 26 1996] ESPERANTO FOR HOMESCHOOLERS In response to a recent article in a newsletter for parents who teach their children at home, many dozens of new Esperanto students are discovering the benefits of learning a planned and regular language. [Growing without School- ing Apr/May 1996] POLITICS EUROPEAN MP's ADDRESS LANGUAGE PROBLEM [This is a continuation of a story from the last issue. All of the opinions in this issue are those of Members of the European Parliament. These comments are the result of a letter sent by G. Pirlot to all MEP's] Robin Teverson: For a long time I have supported Esperanto. Indeed it can play an extremely important role in Europe, but this will require much more official recognition, money and dedication of individual member- states of the European Union. For as long a period as possible we should permit all members of the Parliament to participate in debates in their native language in order to make certain that nobody is neglected because he or she was not able to learn another language. When this problem becomes more complex, then plans will have to be changed and Esperanto will need to begin to play its full role. Mark Watts: I believe that it is truly necessary to deal with the language issue. Growth of the European Union will mean that the number of combinations of possible transla- tions will become astronomical. These translations will require resources, the lack of which can severely limit the effectiveness of the EU. The advantages of a language with a short history are obvious; however the evolution of a culture in which the language is used naturally is a key to its becoming a practical solution... While Esperanto is relatively little used, the perceived need of its instruction is limited. Therefore for the public this language is of peripheral interest, and the number of speakers remains small. Cultural acceptance is, I believe, the chief obstacle to the use of Esperanto as a language of the EU. Michael Elliott: I am a little sceptical about the possibili- ties of any artificially developed international language coming into widespread use, but I acknowledge the advantages there would be and I certainly wish you well in your efforts to promote the greater use of Esperanto. Within the European Parliament I have certainly urged that the fullest consideration should be given to the potential of Esperanto or any other appropriate interna- tional language, to the complex linguistic requirements of EU and other international institutions. Phillip Whitehead: What I would say about Esperanto is that some form of common medium of exchange will increasingly be needed within the EU once we move to a system where there are fifteen to twenty languages, all equally cherished, among the Member States. At that point we shall have to look at the claims of a genuine non-discriminatory international medium. It is for this reason that I support the spread of Esperanto. DIGNITARIES AT CONGRESSES During the Universala Kongreso in Prague this summer, the Czech President Vaclav Havel will serve as the High Protector of the Congress. Catholic Cardinal Miloslav Vlk and Ivan Pilip, the Czech government's Minister of Education and Youth, will serve as Honorary Board Members. The president of Germany, Roman Herzog, has agreed to serve as High Protector of the Internacia Junulara Kongreso in Giintersberge. The Nobel-Prize- winning economist Reinhard Selten and UEA's president Chong-Yeong Lee will be members of the Honorary Committee of the UK. [Eventoj 1/Mar. 1996] ..AND ELSEWHERE Mikhail Gorbachev, former Premier of the Soviet Union and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has accepted an honorary professorship in international law from the Akademio Internacia de Sciencoj in San Marino. Although the Academy uses Esperanto as its major working lan- guage and specifically endorses the International Lan- guage in many scientific contexts, Gorbachev has not yet publicly addressed the language problem. He has, howev- er, declared himself ready to work cooperatively with the AIS. [AIS News Bulletin May 26 19%] ARTS MUSIC IN ESPERANTO The American composer David Gaines recently pre- miered his latest composition entitled "Spiritstatoj" in Baltimore performed by the Peabody Conservatory Wind Ensemble. The title means "Moods" or "Spirit-states" and the three movements are named "Fiero (Pride)", Kontem- placio (Contemplation)" and "Ĝojo (Joy)". [Baltimore Weekly Apr. 17 19%] [Gaines is Vice President of the international organization Muzika Esperanto-Ligo. He also organized and coordi- nates the weekly Esperanto chat group on America Online, -ed.] VIDEOS IN ESPERANTO The Czech Esperanto Association working together with the educational organization KAVA-PECH organized the first International Festival of Esperanto Videofilms in Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. The Festival featured seven original films from five countries: the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Poland and Switzer- land. The second such Festival will take place in Autumn 1997. (Heroldo de Esperanto Mar. 26 19%) DIALECTS... ...DEFENDED Hit hain't normal that he weren't a-feeshin' at the saynd t'day. That's how a native of Harker's Island in North Carolina might say "it isn't normal that he wasn't fishing at the sound today." Both are dialects, and both are perfectly legitimate, according to Walt Wolfram, a linguistic expert from North Carolina State University who is trying to dispel the notion that local dialects mark speakers as uneducated or dumb. "The whole education system has taught students and instructors that dialects are simply unworthy appropriations of standard English, and that persons who speak a non-mainstream dialect fall short of the glory of mainstream English," Wolfram said. "Nothing could be further from the truth." Wolfram has received grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities to help him spread the word that dialects should be a source of pride, not shame. "Historically, the attitude is that if you speak differently from other folks, you speak wrong," he said. "In a sense, it's the same as saying that if you don't look like other people, you don't look right, or if you don't dress like other people, you don't dress right. Our society tolerates considerably more discrimination and prejudice related to language differences than it does to other types of differences." [Fayetteville Observer-Times Apr. 2 19%] ...DISAPPEARING To the oldtimers who gather for afternoon coffee at the Redwood Drive-in, few pastimes are sweeter than sharkin' a brightlighter with a slib of Boont. Take the yuppie in his BMW, up from San Francisco for some weekend wine- tasting. He approaches the men with a smile, asking directions to a local bed-and-breakfast. The response is quick and earnestly polite: "Take your wee moshe, pike toward the Deep End and you'll deek on the Big Crick chiggrul and sluggin' region. And jape easy!" The hapless tourist might not appreciate it, but he has just been given directions in one of the most unusual languages in the world—Boontling, hatched by settlers in this remote Mendocino County valley more than a century ago. At its peak, the colorful lingo was used by virtually all of the 500 people who once made their living raising sheep and apples here. But now only eight or ten of the old-timers can speak Boontling with ease, and they are gradually passing on, taking the language with them to the grave. [Philadelphia Enquirer Feb. 4 19%] NEW FROM THE BOOK SERVICE AVENTURO DE MOMO • LA RINGO DE MOBIUSO, Jean-Pierre CAVELAN & Michel CAVELAN. This funky comicbook is roughly drawn, but with a kind of rustic charm. The story is rich in fantasy and rooted in science fiction. 1996.44p. 295x210. Paper. France. ISSN 0398-5822 AVE002 $10.90/$1035 BIBLIOGRAFIO DE TRADUKOJ EL LA ANGLA LIN- GVO, William AULD & Edmund GRIMLEY EVANS. A thorough collection of all known translations of any kind from English into Esperanto. Amaze your friends (and yourself!) with the depth of this genre. 1996.56p. 295x210. England BIB002 $6.65/$630 CAPO DE LA STERKO-VERMO, LA, Georgo KAMAĈO. Even notebooks can be interesting when the subject matter is controversial and the writer a respected author. Kamaĉo discusses psychedelic drugs in many contexts. A valuable look at the mind of the poet. 1995. 20p. 295x210. Paper. France. ISSN 0398-5822 CAP001 $6.25/$5.95 ESPERANTA TERMINARO DE FIZIKO (ESPERANTO- JAPANA-ANGLA)>HiroshiKATSUMORI, Satoru MAKINO, Junko MAKINO. This trilingual vocabulary is pretty darned thorough, including everything from "aberration" to "zero- point energy". Although intended for Japanese scientists, this will be quite useful for English-speakers or those trying to make sense of English by means of Esperanto. Second edition 1992. 197p. 210x150. Paper. Japan. ISBN 4-9900082-1-9 ESP041 $12.00/$11.40 KAJTO-KANONOJ,Afl/to. This small collection of canons (or rounds) includes all of those which appear on Kajto's albums, plus a few more. They range in difficulty from simple to expert level. All are fun and clever. An excellent means to get groups singing together. 1995. 6p. 295x210. Paper. Netherlands KAJ004 $4.50/$4.25 IvAJTO-KANTLIBRO, Kajto. Illustrated. A must for all fans of Kajto who like to sing along with the albums! This book includes all songs on all three albums, and presents most of them in the same order in which they are heard. Slick, professionally done. Includes melodies, chords, lyrics and even some nice photos of the band at play. 1995. 72p. 295x210. Paper. Netherlands KAJ005 $26.50/$25.15 KANTO PRI MINOTAŬRO kaj aliaj poemoj, Gerrit BERVELING. This new collection of poems (some origi- nal, some translated) is the cream of the crop from this prolific and erudite poet and translator. The subject matter is often metaphysical or historical, the treatment always profound. 1993. 135p. 205x145. Paper. Belgium. ISBN 90-71205-46-0 KAN009 $18.95/$18,00 LIRIKAJ PERLOJ DE AL-ANDALUS, Antonio Marco BOTELLA. Here is a fine example of the value of Espe- ranto as a language of translation: much of this exquisite literature is not available in English. This collection features the pearls of Arabic, Spanish and Jewish lyric poetry from Spain during the Golden Age of Islam. Includes richly insightful historical commentary. Illustrat- ed. 1995.326p. 210x145. Paper. Spain. ISBN 84-605-3444-8 LIR002 $21.15/$20.10 LUDANTA LUMO, LA, Leopold VERMEIREN. An artisti- cally crafted collection of romantic and erotic short stories featuring the discovery of the pleasures of love between a young poet and his first beloved. The author is well-known in Belgium for his Flemish-language short stories and novels. See also La nudafeino below. 1995. 93p. 200x140. Paper. Belgium. ISBN 90-71205-57-6 LUD001 $18.95/$18.00 NUDA FEINO, LA, Leopold VERMEIREN. Another collection of erotic short stories, with a good dose of fantasy and a generous spicing of philosophy. This was Vermeiren's first publication in Esperanto, and was very well received by critics and readers. See also La ludanta lumo above. 1993. 108p. 200x140. Paper. Belgium. ISBN 90-71205-49-5 NUD002 $18.95/$18J© RAKONTOJ PRAPATRAJ PRI NLA LANDO ANTAŬ MULTAJ JARCENTOJ KIAM OKAZEMIS AFEROJ MIRINDAJ, "Doko". Brain-tickling wit runs deep in this collection of charming "falselore" tales about the mythical prehistory of Esperanto-land, when the world was young and there were dragons in Europe and giants in Asia. 19%. 77p. 215x135. Paper. USA. ISBN 1-882251-13-X RAK002 $5.15/$4.90 SUB INFLUO DE LA ALKOHOLO, /. Herbert SULLI- VAN. These short stories reflect life in modern society and the choices and relationships which make up our social worlds. Some surprise turns will delight the fan of short mysteries. 1991. 92p. 210x140. Paper. Belgium. ISBN 90- 71205-42-8 SUB003 $8.85/$8.40 VINYL PORTFOLIO. This handsome dark green folder will be useful for carrying documents and miscellaneous papers whether they are written in Esperanto or any other language. Large enough for legal size paper. Includes ELNA's name, address, phone and fax numbers. USA POR002 $1.90/$1.80 ELNA Membership Benefits • A bi-monthly newsletter keeping you up to date on issues of importance to Esperantists • 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 information on the world language problem and Esperanto as a possible 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-paying member of ELNA and therefore not eligible for the regular membership benefits. Instead, a "Friend" offers encouragement to the Esperanto movement by providing 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 Esperanto as a possible solution The ELNA Book and Tape Service catalogs 1996 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 1st - December 31st. For items marked (*) we must have your birthdate. NOTE: Your address, telephone and fax numbers and computer network address will be published in the yearly membership list unless you indicate otherwise here: Do NOT publish: O address O phone number Ofax number O network address Name:___________________ Address:_________________ City/State/Zip:____________ Phone Number:___________ Computer Network Address: Amateur Radio Call:_______ Birthdate: Fax Number: Membership Categories [ ] Individual.............$30.00 [ ] Family ...............$45-00 [ ] Sustaining.............$60.00 [ ] Life (*) .............. $600.00 [ ] Youth ("Under 27).......$15-00 [ ] Limited Income.........$15.00 Other Forms of Support [ ] Friend of Esperanto......$10.00 [ ] Donation..............$_____ Return this form with payment to: Esperanto League for North America P.O. Box 1129, El Cerrlto CA 94530 Esperanto League for North America P.O. Box 1129 El Cerrito CA 94530 1 In this issus... ♦ Education * Dialects Non-Profit Org. 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