ESPERANTO PRONUNCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 6

ESPERANTO PRONUNCIATION

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,; —With considerable interest I perused the comment by " Civis " regarding the pronunciation of the international language, Esperanto, recently appearing in your journal. In reply to the questions as to the extent of the progress of the Esperanto movement, I have pleasure in assuring " Civis" that the movement is steadily expanding and developing in every country, including New Zealand. There are now some thousands of Esperanto study groups scattered world-wide (10 in New Zealand); the language_ is taught in day and night classes ranging from primary schools to universities, several of which have chairs of Esperanto; over 2100 towns in 75 countries have official delegates, or consuls, who are at the service of all; no fewer than 180 radio stations in 33 countries have broadcast lessons and items, and at present in Europe it is possible to hear such programmes nightly; the Esperanto press >s comprised of over 100 newspapers and magazines; gramophone records have been obtainable for some years; the leading shorthand systems of the world have been adapted to Esperanto; and the organisations which utilise and recommend Esperanto are too numerous to mention herein, but it will suffice to say they range from the League of Nations and the International Labour Office (which actually uses the language) to Rotary clubs, Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, and a plethora of chambers of commerce. Every overseas mail which reaches New Zealand now brings advertising matter in Esperanto. The claim by " Civis" that the pronunciation of Esperanto may vary and may be difficult for some nations is in practice disproved annually when the world congress of Esperantists meets. Statistics show that these congresses are attended by 1500 to 5000 Esperantists from 50 countries, and during the eight days each congress is in session the business is transacted entirely in Esperanto. Language barriers are thus definitely

broken down; and it has been reported many times that the nationality of the congressists is not discernible from their Esperanto. Japanese take part in these gatherings, and their use of the language is the same as is that of the Western peoples. This is substantiated by the gramophone records which reach New Zealand and which indicate that our conception of Esperanto is true in all respects to the international model.—l am, etc., Wm. H. Kino, Hon. Secretary, New Zealand Esperanto, October 21. Wellington.