Comments for Languages in the news

Comment on Kiel vi fartas* (That’s ‘How are you’ in Esperanto) by Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:50:34 +0000

Esperanto is a great language.

If you have a moment please check http://www.lernu.net

Comment on Kiel vi fartas* (That’s ‘How are you’ in Esperanto) by Mar

Mar — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:34:34 +0000

Thank you for reposting this. Just a quick note, the word ‘fartas’ is misspelled on the title.

Comment on Kiel vi fartas* (That’s ‘How are you’ in Esperanto) by Desi

Desi — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:20:13 +0000

It’s “fartas”, not “fatras”.

Bondezirojn! (Best wishes)

Comment on The global language by Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:22 +0000

It is a pity that a majority of people do not know that Esperanto has become a living language. In fact after a short period of 122 years Esperanto is now in the top 100 languages, out of 6,800 worldwide. It is the 17th most used language in Wikipedia ahead of Arabic and Danish. It is a language choice of Google, Skype, Firefox and Facebook.

Native Esperanto speakers,(people who have used the language from birth), include George Soros, World Chess Champion Susan Polger, Ulrich Brandenberg the new German Ambassador to Russia and Nobel Laureate Daniel Bovet. The language is within the top 100 languages, out of all languages, worldwide.

Your readers may be interested in the following video :) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8837438938991452670 A glimpse of the language can be seen at http://www.lernu.net :)

Comment on Former minister Chris Bryant: French is a useless language by Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:06:11 +0000

Chris Bryant raises the question on which language should be taught in British schools.

I see that President Obama wants everyone to learn another language, however which one should it be?

The British learn French, the Australians study Japanese, and the Americans prefer Spanish. Yet this leaves Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic, out of the equation.

It is time to move forward and discuss the subject of a common international language, taught worldwide, in all schools and in all nations. As a native English speaker, my vote is for Esperanto.

Please look at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8837438938991452670. A glimpse of Esperanto can be seen at http://www.lernu.net

Comment on Inventor Proposes New Language for Cell Phone Messaging — Using Hieroglyphics by Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Sun, 30 May 2010 10:36:11 +0000

I’d like to confirm that Esperanto has indeed become a hit. I’ts time has yet to come.

Can I add that Esperanto has become a living language :)

After a short period of 122 years Esperanto is now in the top 100 languages, out of 6,800 worldwide. It is the 22nd most used language in Wikipedia, and a language choice of Google, Skype, Firefox and Facebook.

Native Esperanto speakers, (people who have used the language from birth), include financier George Soros, World Chess Champion Susan Polger, Ulrich Brandenberg the new German Ambassador to NATO and Nobel Laureate Daniel Bovet.

Your readers may be interested in the following video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8837438938991452670

A glimpse of the language can be seen at http://www.lernu.net

Comment on U.S. Students Hurting in Foreign Languages by margi

margi — Sat, 29 May 2010 20:32:21 +0000

While foreign language learning has been and is in a deplorable state as the article rightly stated, it is very puzzling to recognize the perception of foreign language learning.
In many schools and even universities, there is no mandatory requirement for learning a foreign language. The benefits of learning another language – brain development, sensitivity to other cultures, understanding of different thought processes, development of critical thinking etc. – are not understood and neglected. Why have the many research findings on this subject not influenced our school curriculums?
Western languages are now slated at many schools and universities, because government funds are available to teach the so-called “critical languages.” Critical for whom? Does it mean other languages are no longer “useful?”
If funds are available, why not institute these new language teaching demands next to the Western languages to at least give a choice. It is very shortsighted to underestimate the European Union with all the cultural richness and the invaluable importance to the US economy.
For government purposes, there are excellent government schools available teaching these “critical languages,” which means for everyone working in or with the government, a certain degree of proficiency can at least be reached by attending these schools.
Language learning is a long process, if a certain kind of proficiency should be achieved. Our schools and universities will not be able to educate proficient speakers of these “critical” languages for obvious reasons, not to mention the lack of trained and proficient teachers.
A long reaching plan needs to be developed in regard to foreign language teaching and learning, which is not solely grounded in economical and political changes and demands, and funds made available, a plan that is directed to educate a truly global world and society.
The great Nelson Mandela has said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
Right now, we aren’t teaching our students how to speak to the hearts of our neighbors around the globe.

Comment on GLOBISH FOR BEGINNERS by Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:34:36 +0000

Globish reminds me of another project called “Basic English” Unfortunately this failed, because native English speakers could not remember which words not to use :)

So it’s time to move forward and adopt a neutral non-national language, taught universally in schools worldwide,in all nations.

As a native English speaker, I would prefer Esperanto

Your readers may be interested in the following video at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_YHALnLV9XU Professor Piron was a translator with the United Nations in Geneva.

A glimpse of Esperanto can be seen at http://www.lernu.net

Comment on Language division to create synergy by Deaf Sign Language

Deaf Sign Language — Sat, 15 May 2010 10:17:29 +0000

Deaf Sign Language…

As promised, we wanted to put together a list of useful links and resources related to baby sign language. We hope you take the time to explore all these for they all offer different kinds of information, including visual dictionaries (so you can learn…

Comment on Esperanto fans attend annual conference in north Wales by Bill Chapman

Bill Chapman — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:13:07 +0000

I’m an Esperanto speaker rather than an Esperanto. It’s a pity that this brief report did not say we will discuss the challenges of writing for an internastional audience, will be singing and occasionally arguing in this delightful language.