ESPERANTO

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 1, 7 June 1944, Page 5

ESPERANTO

The weekly meeting of the Hutt Valley Esperanto Club took place in the Hibernian Hall, Lower Ilutt, on Monday night last. The VicePresident drew the attention of members to the April issue of the Wellington County Scout Gazette, in which there appeared a splendid editorial concerning the almost insurmountable obstacle in the path of international understanding, the barrier of language. The article pointed out that the introduction of Basic English would be, prejudicial; to quote: "From the American and British point of view this is ideal as we are sitting on the "box, seat," as it were. However the objection immediately arises that ours is a national tongue and international prejudice must arise at any attempt to foster its use in an international lield. For over filly-seven years we have had the answer, and it lies in the invention of a Polish linguist, Dr. L. L. Zainenhof, given to the world in Esperanto. Here we have a language which complies with all the conditions. Artificial in one sense, it is jet possible for the nationals of all European countries to recognise similarities to many of the words in their own tongue. The rules of grammar and word order are simplified to an amazing degree, and it is no exaggeration to say that a reasonably intelligent person can learn to converse to a limited extent, in a remarkably shore time." A display of Esperanto letters, postcards, etc., which will be of interest to all supporters of the movement, will be on show in the windows of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas offices, early in June. Watch for it.