Esperanto: Difference between revisions
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'''Esperanto''' is a [[constructed language|constructed]] (or 'artificial') [[language (general)|language]] created by [[L.L. Zamenhof]] in the 1870s and 1880s. Zamenhof envisaged Esperanto as an artificial ''[[lingua franca]]'' that would facilitate easier global [[communication]]. Despite this, he chose to derive much of its vocabulary from [[Romance languages|Romance]] | '''Esperanto''' is a [[constructed language|constructed]] (or 'artificial') [[language (general)|language]] created by [[L.L. Zamenhof]] in the 1870s and 1880s. Zamenhof envisaged Esperanto as an artificial ''[[lingua franca]]'' that would facilitate easier global [[communication]]. Despite this, he chose to derive much of its vocabulary from [[Romance languages|Romance]] and other [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] language families such as [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] and [[Slavic languages|Slavic]]. | ||
Today, the users of the languages number at least in the tens of thousands, of whom a few have been identified as [[native language|native speakers]]. However, the dominance of several [[natural language]]s in the world, especially [[English language|English]], has meant that Esperanto is yet to emerge as a true global tongue. | |||
==Grammar== | |||
The Esperanto [[grammar]] is very simple. For example, there is only one [[conjuction|conjugated]] form of the [[verb]] and no [[grammatical gender]], so all [[noun]]s have the same [[article (grammar)|article]] (''la''). All nouns end in ''-o'' in the [[subject (grammar)|subject]] form and in ''-on'' in the [[object (grammar)|object]] form, while all [[adjective]]s end in ''-a'' (subject form) or in ''-an'' (object form). Moreover, most [[antonym]]s of a word are formed just by adding the [[prefix]] ''mal-'' to the original word. So ''nova'' means for example "good", while ''malbona'' means ''bad''. | |||
==Use== | |||
For Esperanto speakers there are several international organizations, the largest of which is the [[Universal Esperanto Association]]. Moreover, there also exists [[literature]] and [[music]] in Esperanto as well as Esperanto radio stations. | |||
Revision as of 03:09, 7 December 2010
Esperanto is a constructed (or 'artificial') language created by L.L. Zamenhof in the 1870s and 1880s. Zamenhof envisaged Esperanto as an artificial lingua franca that would facilitate easier global communication. Despite this, he chose to derive much of its vocabulary from Romance and other Indo-European language families such as Germanic and Slavic.
Today, the users of the languages number at least in the tens of thousands, of whom a few have been identified as native speakers. However, the dominance of several natural languages in the world, especially English, has meant that Esperanto is yet to emerge as a true global tongue.
Grammar
The Esperanto grammar is very simple. For example, there is only one conjugated form of the verb and no grammatical gender, so all nouns have the same article (la). All nouns end in -o in the subject form and in -on in the object form, while all adjectives end in -a (subject form) or in -an (object form). Moreover, most antonyms of a word are formed just by adding the prefix mal- to the original word. So nova means for example "good", while malbona means bad.
Use
For Esperanto speakers there are several international organizations, the largest of which is the Universal Esperanto Association. Moreover, there also exists literature and music in Esperanto as well as Esperanto radio stations.