ESPERANTO NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8740, 23 May 1914, Page 10

ESPERANTO NOTES

(By “Cosmo.”) • “Esperanto for Engineers” was th« title of au address recently read by Mr T. J. Gnomic, B.Sc., M.Soc.C.E. (France), M.S.E., before the members of the Society of Engineers in ixmdon. “Mr 11. C. H. Shontou, the provident,” says the “British Fhpomnlist,” “occupied the chair, and mad© fympaihetic rofcronce to Esperanto in his introductory remarks. Tile lectuner pointed out that there arc four main reasons for the adoption by sclfiitiiie and technical men of an international language: (1) Modern science is to a considerable degree, specialised and international. Engineers, of whatever nationality, are obliged to study works by authors of other nations. (2) In the actual carrying out of on* gineering works or tho purauit of ro» search abroad, a man comes in con« tact with people of divers© nationalities, and it is a difficult and inlcrmiui. able- task to master a number of different languages. (3) The work of international congresses would bo greatly facilitated and their expense reduced. (4) The present high prices of technical hooks would he reduced, because, if written in an international language, they would have a much wider circulation,- and translations would not bo necessary. . . “A modem national language, such as English or French, would never ha generally accepted as a ‘world language’ on account of irregularities of formation and pronunciation, and international jealousy. There is no probability of any one language becoming the universal language of all men, and an auxiliary language id* intercommunication between scion lists, ■is practicable. Esperanto is such 9 llangtiago, and its use is possible be. cause (a) it is a living language; (b) it is international and neutral; (c) it us learnt with tho least possible diffi(calty; (d) it lends itself to the technical requirements of every science; (o) it has been used most successfully Jta public discussions at international congresses; (f) it is capable of reduoling the cost of international! books. “Sir WV J. Collins, D.L., M.D., .Fellow and Senator of the University ,of Ijondon, formerly chairman of the ■London County Council, congratulated the Society of Engineer*; upon the enterprise which hod given on opportunity for discussing a matter so important and interesting. . . . From his own personal experience of many International Congresses, Sir William fully confirmed all that had been said about tho waste of time and money iu the translation and rotranslation of tho proceedings into three or four official languages, none of , which are understood by all tho members, and of tho difficulties which constantly meat many members of such Congresses, who. even if they oan rend one or more of tho official languages, are unable to gpoak them, or to understand them when spoken. “Mr G. J. Oox stated that tho logical and mathematical construction of tho language appealed especially to engineers. Tho expression was good, land there was no ambiguity. Ho found it possible to explain himself upon engineering matters very clearly ■and with great ease in Esperanto.

“Mr F.- M. Sexton considered that Esperanto had a special application to scientists. It was particularly fitted for the translation of soientifia papers. Ono could learn to road it in ,a few hours', and the Society of Engineers would do good work if they would push the matter. “Mr Archibald Sharp, B.Sc., referred to the work of the engineering standards committee. Standardisation had proved to be of the greatest advantage in all engineering matters, and it therefore seemed fit that the language of engineers should ha standardised.”

Other interesting addresses were delivered.

The membership roll of tho Wellington Esperanto Society was augmented last Tuesday evening, when the weekly meeting eventuated in Esperanto Hall. Mr A. S. Hilliker was tho newcomer. Instead of the customary course of instruction being proceeded with, tho president, Mr W. L. Edmanson. gave a lecture concerning the -accusative case. Steps are being taken to move tho Council of the University with a view of having Esperanto included in the optional languages for the Commerce Degree.

Under the heading “Esperanto, ofiicial language of tho Aeronautic Federation” tho newspaper “Die Zeit,” of Vienna, reports as follows: —“The Society for Aeronautics in Upper Austria brought forward a proposal, (submitted by Captain Malina, to the effect that the international auxiliary language Esperanto he introduced a* the official language of tho ‘Fedora* tion Aeronautiquo Internationale. 1 Upon this' subject Captain Engel. (Vienna) made a detailed report in favour of Esperanto. The vice-presi-dent of tho federation, Major Ilintcrstoisser, warmly recommended the. pro. posal, and after a long debate the preliminaries for the introductioh of Esperanto were loft in tho hands of the Aeronautic Commission.” The fourth Finnish Congress took place last mouth in Tampere.

Tho Chief Constable of Edinburgh has recently granted permission to live policemen, who can speak the inter, national tongue, to attend the Paris Esperanto Congress. The ‘‘Tourist Society of Finland,’ 1 ' which has already published a. beautiful guide-book in Esperanto, has recently given a subvention for the pro* paration of a large quantity of lantern slides. It will send shortly an Esperantist upon a tour through several foreign countries, where he will address* audiences of different nations, pointing to Finland as the goal for tourists. Tho subvention received is so great that it trill not be necessary, for any society which arranges a lecture to incur any expense.