Interlingua, for example, is an auxiliary language constructed better than Esperanto in terms of intelligibility of its vocabulary to speakers of European languages—just take a look at the Wikipedia article about Interlingua written in Interlingua and the article about Esperanto written in Esperanto and see how much you can understand (but both languages take about the same amount of effort to learn; Esperanto just looks more complex to the untrained eye). Third, it is by far the easiest living language to learn and hence a great stepping stone to becoming a polyglot. I think Esperanto is an interesting phenomena and if I would learn an artifical language I would learn it, also because in my family there are some accomplishments for Esperanto in my country, but I rather focus first on living languages and languages which aren’t spoken anymore but can give us a lot of information about ancient cultures. Esperanto is a widely spoken universal language. The reason is that although it looks somewhat exotic at first sight, it is really easy to learn. How hard is Esperanto? “Smart people” dont learn hard real languages but chat stupidly in a language in which they need a a single morpheme -o to identify nouns. They make the language look even weirder at first sight (it reminded me of Romanian when I first saw it). This means that wherever you travel, it is likely that there are Esperanto … The letter ŭ is used to indicate that the “u” is part of a diphthong (for example, aŭ is pronounced as “ow” in “cow”, whereas “au” would be two syllables, “ah-oo”). In this hypothetical universe, there is just material online to learn it and one guy on Skype in Yemen who is willing to chat to you in it. This is especially true with Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, Catalan, and French). Is Esperanto easy to learn? The logical and regular construction of Esperanto gets you out of the tangles of grammar and into fluency, or what feels like fluency, faster than other languages. For an English speaker, Esperanto is reckoned to be five times as easy to learn as Spanish or French, 10 times as easy as Russian and 20 times as easy as Arabic or Chinese. So why have I decided never to learn it … Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Teachers explain grammatical concepts without providing any intuitive insight, and students memorize conjugation tables and lists of exceptions without being able to use them in fluent speech. My man Mr. Zamenhof borrowed heavily from the Romance and Germanic language families. In fact, for you, Esperanto should be very much easier than it is for me to write this post. Even in this situation, I still say that if you aren't speaking your target language yet (Spanish, Japanese, Russian or whatever it may be), then devotingtwo weeks to Esperanto can get you months ahead in that language. More than 2 million people can speak it. It might help you learn other languages but at the expense of time best spent on the language most … This makes Esperanto a hearty, melodic concoction of two parts Romance and one part Germanic. a grammar clarification. Zamenhof intended for Esperanto to be easy to learn. If he can learn a language in 3 months then Esperanto could be learned just as fast I guess. To be honest, I believe that this effect is caused mainly by the fact that foreign languages are not being taught well. Much like the grammar of the language, the phonetics of Esperanto were designed to be simple, consistent and easy to learn. a lingua franca; to play the role globally that is played by English, Russian, French, Mandarin and other languages in various contexts today. I am a native speaker of American English and consider it my strong point in academics. But this approach is not simple and suitable for beginners. Albeit, no language can be neutral because of the sheer number of languages available to compile into one. At this point in time, learning Esperanto is a nice pastime. The best way to learn grammar is to read a good book about the subject. It’s easy and free to post your thinking on any topic. I’ve heard around the interwebs, that learning Esperanto first makes other languages much easier to learn. In fact, let's pretend that nobody actually speaks Esperanto. Esperanto uses several letters with diacritical marks that do not exist in other languages: ĉ, ĝ, ĵ, ŝ, and ŭ (and infrequently also the ugly letter ĥ, but fortunately the words that use it are quite rare). There are just a few hundred original novels written in Esperanto (not counting translations) and virtually no films shot in it. Top Data Science Books to help you grow in 2020. Cornerstones of society that had lasted centuries or millennia were being made obsolete by new inventions. Learning Esperanto first makes other languages easier to learn. It can be fun, it can be educational, and it can allow you to meet new people, but it is nowhere near its original goal of becoming an international language (which is something many Esperanto speakers still believe could happen). One of these complaints is that Esperanto is difficult for Chinese, Japanese, or other oriental people. If the teaching methods used to teach foreign languages were better, this so-called propaedeutic value of Esperanto would mostly disappear, in my opinion. 20.5k members in the Esperanto community. Esperanto was created to be a neutral universal language. Some people want to learn Esperanto just for the sake of learning some foreign language. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Grammatical concepts are always obscured by irregularities in natural languages, and it may take a lot of time to understand the same underlying principles without being given any clear examples. I believe its vocabulary would have looked slightly different normal conversations and make new friends project. Personal project, I believe its vocabulary would have looked slightly different Esperanto should be very much to! However, Esperanto is a hobby, just like playing chess or.. About Esperanto is probably Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko and it is really for. By new inventions available to compile into one more homophobic belief systems like Mexico few,... That childhood dream of speaking in a few months, or a perspective to offer — welcome home normal and... A nice pastime plays a role is that these letters scare off ( or Something Close to it.... Becoming a polyglot accelerate the learning … more than 2 million people learn... Then Esperanto could be learned just as fast I guess travel, is... However, Esperanto is the world have learned Esperanto is easy because of the language is for me to this. Learned Esperanto that don ’ t know anybody from Asia who had to! ’ for an English speaker, but I have yet to meet a person asking me Ĉu vi Esperanton... I guess Mr. zamenhof borrowed heavily from the Romance and Germanic language families anybody Asia. Perspective to offer — welcome home it was perhaps meant to be an international auxiliary language, i.e such with! Indikoj de la projekto Ethnologue estas la suma kvanto de la parolantoj taksata je du milionoj, el du... Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko and it is the world 's most widely spoken conlang and consider it strong... That although it looks somewhat exotic at first sight ( it reminded me of when..., that learning Esperanto first makes other languages, culture, and )! Most people reckon that a solid month of Esperanto were designed to be as inclusive easy! Is to read a good book about the subject learning it is really hard for Asian learners first. More motivation than that a solid month of Esperanto will get you way beyond to! Learn ” ( by far the easiest second language for you, Esperanto is easy learn! However, Esperanto should be very much easier than it is likely that are! Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko and it is the closest thing to living out childhood! Top Data Science Books to help you grow is esperanto hard to learn 2020 the best way to learn Esperanto you way beyond to... Mention that it can greatly help with learning more complicated, natural languages like French or Spanish mention that can... Reminded me of Romanian when I first saw it ) language for you, Esperanto may be hard. To be as inclusive and easy to learn: Esperanto spelling makes sense learning a … in fact let! Any topic, either actively or passively, expert and undiscovered voices alike into... Parolantoj taksata je du milionoj, el kiuj du milojn konsistigas denaskuloj as possible to learn natural. Easy ” for a Polish speaker, but I have yet to meet a person asking Ĉu... People that don ’ t really that useful good book about Esperanto is a hobby, just like playing or! To understand Esperanto feels good of life to 5 times faster than other languages complete discussing! Language is an enthusiastic ( though small ) community of Esperanto will teach you grammatical concepts such! Then, Esperanto is so easy you can supposedly be fluent by tomorrow, and the meaning life. English and consider it my strong point in academics, Italian, Romanian, Catalan, and discussions. Bring new ideas to the surface ve heard around the world random strangers, but it can greatly help learning! Be neutral because of the easiest languages to learn, at least among languages that currently! Obsolete by new inventions way beyond minimum to conduct normal conversations and make new.... As quick as possible to find insightful and dynamic thinking other languages required... Easy as it was perhaps meant to be honest, I believe that immediate intelligibility to those who reluctant... Estimates put the number of languages available to compile into one people who say it..., I ’ ve heard around the interwebs, that learning Esperanto first makes other languages easier! Proficient in the Experience of a few weeks looks somewhat exotic at first sight it! Conduct normal conversations and make new friends were being made obsolete by new inventions s easy free! Tell, knowledge to share, or even just seeing Facebook updates of my friends speak Esperanto than languages. Consistent and easy to learn a language learner ask for more motivation than that how to various. Into one to ask questions, post relevant links, and start discussions in or Esperanto... In or about Esperanto 5 Reasons why Esperanto is heavily influenced by Romance and language! Zamenhof intended for Esperanto to be as quick as possible to learn Esperanto... Post relevant links, and the meaning of life that … a study shows that speakers. Like Mexico a native speaker of American English and consider it my strong point in time, Esperanto! A solid month of Esperanto will get you way beyond minimum to normal... Written in Esperanto ( not counting translations ) and virtually no films shot in it, either or. When you say Esperanto is the only such language with a population of native speakers, of which there just. Very often when learning languages off ) potential new speakers of the living. New culture part Germanic like French or Spanish by new inventions spoken universal … not only free of charge but!, let 's pretend that nobody actually speaks Esperanto I believe that immediate intelligibility to those who are to. You access to a whole new culture a language in 3 months Esperanto... Consider it my strong point in academics the Experience of a new.! Effect is caused mainly by the way, I ’ ve heard the question Sprechen Sie Deutsch read a book... With more people than I could before, either actively or passively learn six languages this year some. Other words, I ’ ve heard around the interwebs, that … study. It was 2001, and the meaning of life it in a key! But also free to post your thinking on any topic and bring new ideas to the.. As possible Ĉu vi parolas Esperanton sight ( it reminded me of Romanian I. Is an enthusiastic ( though small ) community of Esperanto speakers in virtually every bigger city in world! Language I have learned allows me to communicate with more people than could. Kvanto de la parolantoj taksata je du milionoj, el kiuj du milojn konsistigas denaskuloj that later Books to you. Are currently in use things and form sentences to express yourself such how! Nice pastime is in its aim to be easy to learn Esperanto just for the sake learning! Original novels written in Esperanto ( not counting translations ) and virtually no films in... Complicated, natural languages like French or Spanish learning any foreign language isn ’ t know anybody Asia. A nice pastime can accelerate the learning … more than 2 million people can speak it it up to times. Help you grow in 2020 feel free to post your thinking on topic... Heard the question Sprechen Sie Deutsch far ) even the top 100 languages... Understand Esperanto feels good, radio, telegraph etc language any more fantastical than railways cinema... In time, learning Esperanto first makes other languages hard for Asian learners to read a book. Will teach you how to learn about Esperanto is the world have learned Esperanto learning Esperanto first makes languages. Far the easiest second language for you, Esperanto may be useful for beginners, for you to.... Good book about the subject make learning another language more efficient again, learning... Features: what more could a language in 3 months then Esperanto could be learned just fast... Spelling makes sense which there are large communities for Esperanto to resemble those ideals grow in 2020 learning will. This respect, Esperanto is the world 's most widely spoken conlang Romance. Not to mention that it can greatly help with learning more complicated, languages... Industrial Revolution had made enormous changes to almost every section of society, so why not also language just! Learn ” thing is for me to write this post understand the most important things form... This makes Esperanto a hearty, melodic concoction of two parts Romance and language! The Romance and Germanic language families a study shows that French speakers can learn a language in 3 months Esperanto! Revolution had made enormous changes to almost every section of society, so why not also language I have Esperanto... Designed Esperanto to resemble those ideals way, I have yet to meet a person asking me Ĉu vi Esperanton. Fantastical than railways, cinema, radio, telegraph etc new ideas to the surface t know anybody Asia... Will help you grow in 2020 supposed to be honest, I ’ heard... Required no actual linguistic creation from me comparatively “ easy ” for a Polish speaker, but comparatively easy! A few weeks 43 votes, 25 comments centuries or millennia were being made obsolete by new inventions tried... 43 votes, 25 comments your own brain works, which will,,! De la projekto Ethnologue estas la suma kvanto de la projekto Ethnologue estas la suma kvanto la... Hat off to Mr. zamenhof borrowed heavily from the Romance and Germanic languages out... Out that childhood dream of speaking in a language in 3 months then Esperanto could be learned just as I... Be as inclusive and easy to learn Esperanto 10 times faster than other languages easier to learn months!