Esperanto ASAP- Chapter 21(3)
^CAPITRO 21 (DUDEK UNU) Parto 3
Lastfoje ^san^gita : la 20an de februaro, 2007
Recently a forum designed to provide a social net where one can put photos, videos and other objects of interest was created.
The membership has rapidly grown to more than 350 and contains more than 850 photographs, including details of a recent International Seminary.
The best internet Encyclopaedia is Wikipedia and is available in many languages including now Esperanto.
The local authorities in Herzberg am Harz in Germany have decided to make their town 'die Esperanto-Stadt'.
They intend to facilitate the use of the language, set up an Esperanto library, use Esperanto to communicate with their twinned town (Gora in Poland) and offer regular Esperanto courses.
This is a project, led by Angela Tellier, to encourage the introduction of Esperanto teaching in primary schools in England (at Keystage 2)- both for its own sake and as a stepping stone to other languages (which Esperanto does brilliantly see note in Introductory Chapter.).
The first pilot school started the project in September 2006.
So great has been the interest abroad, in fact, that some enthusiasts have even formed an Internet group (Lingvolancilo Springboard) to translate the Springboard website into national languages, with a view to promoting the idea throughout Europe. At the last count the group had about 100 subscribers.
Meanwhile Springboard has signed up a second pilot school, where Stephen Thompson is helping with the teaching. So far all is going well in both the pilot schools. Manchester University are undertaking a long-term, independent evaluation of the whole project.
8). The Conservation of the Language
Zamenhof realised that his international language must be stable and not to break down into dialects otherwise soon its universality would disappear. On the other hand the language, like all other languages had to evolve and incorporate new words as time went on or it would stagnate.
He therefore in 1905 published Fundamentoj de Esperanto at the very first Universala Kongreso de Esperanto (in Boulogne, France) it was accepted that this was to be the 'untouchable basis for the language'.
It was also agreed that one has the right to introduce a new form (or neologismo) into the language (conforming to the normal gramatical endings etc). The final decision between the new form and any existing forms would simply be decided eventually by common usage. Thus when television first appeared it was called televido, televideo and televizoro. All three forms co-existed until the first eventually gained common acceptance. A similar state is happening with computer with komputilo kaj komputero both being used- the first now seems to be winning the fight for acceptance.
A body of experts has been set up (La Akademio de Esperanto) to monitor the language and from time to time officially recognize new words and even affixes (e.g. -end is a fairly recent addition). This is an attempt to ensure that the language does not undergo any fissures because of contentious issues. L'academie française is, of course, designed to protect French in the same way (but with le weekend and le hot dog etc. it seems to be losing the battle to franglais!)
When Vogager 2 was launched into space in 1977 it carried a message for any extra-terrestials who might encounter it. Twelve members of a UN Committee left messages with the message from the Australian diplomat, Ralph Harry in Esperanto. Perhaps when man finally reaches the stars he will found the locals already speaking Esperanto!!
New Words:
13). Esperanto Video Tapes