The Qest for an International Language

I just rediscovered a small booklet with the title Solution for the problem of an international language. It is published in Esperanto and translated into German. The essay of the anonymous autor was first introduced in 1900 at the congress of the French Association of Progress and Science in Paris. Later it also appeared in Zamenhof's well-known Fundamenta Krestomatio.

It is a remarkable text because it shows the effort of people who have been trying to promote the idea of an international language for more than a hundred years ago. In the beginning the author writes about the question of the necessity of an international language: This question because of its naivety will evoke a laugh by future generations, like as our contemporaries laughed at the question "Do we need a post?"

Well, now in the beginning of the 21st century, such a question seems to have been answered. English took over the function of an international language. When the unknown author hundred years before considered the matter, French kind of served as it.

Nowadays we are used to the term of globalization, but then that was a new, progressive idea. Going for it could be seen as a non-patriotic attitude. The author assumes that one day there will be a united humanity. He distinguishes between an international language and a world language. The first one serves us as an auxiliary language for transnational communication and the other will be the result of the natural development of the human community. According to him, nations and languages will intermingle and become similar. On the other hand, the author emphasizes that an international language will not interfere with national languages, and will even enable their survival.

He also talks about the opponents of this idea and their fear that one day one of the existing national languages will be chosen to serve as an international language. Then, for example, it would suppress other languages. This argument is almost gone today. Further he also speaks of three candidates for an international language, Latin, some national language and a newly created language.

In conclusion he says:

1. The introduction of an international language would bring enormous benefit to humanity.

2. The introduction of an international language is completely possible.

3. The introduction of an international language will be more or less inevitable and will undoubtedly be carried out, in spite the fact that many will fight against this.

4. As an international language will never be chosen any other except a constructed one.

5. As an international language will never be elected any other except Esperanto; it will be left in its current form or there will be some changes made in it.

Well, for me that sounds like words of a prophet. Although I think we can not return in our evolution and abandon the use of English as international language (maybe somewhat modified), I can however imagine that the world due to any reason could completely change. Than Esperanto, or what comes out of it would prevail.

Thanks for reading and voting. Enjoy your day!