| One of the greatest obstacles to human | | | | One potential common language already exists. |
| communication has been the language barrier. It | | | | Esperanto. It was constructed for exactly this |
| has limited communication between nations and | | | | purpose. Invented by L.L. Zamenhof in the 1880's, |
| peoples, confused ideas and intentions, and has | | | | it was designed to be relatively easy to learn and |
| even led to wars. While there have always | | | | use. Since everyone learns it as a second |
| existed regional languages of influence and lingua | | | | language, no one is at an unfair advantage or |
| francas, these come and go through the years, | | | | disadvantage. |
| leaving disarray and power vacuums in their wake. | | | | Esperanto has its detractors. Some say it is too |
| A more viable, long-term solution is for everyone | | | | European in its origins and therefore puts Africans |
| to learn a common second language. | | | | or Asians at a disadvantage. Some linguists believe |
| If everyone learned a common second language, | | | | a more viable and neutral language could be |
| many communication problems between people | | | | created, but none has yet done so successfully. |
| and nations would be solved. It would level the | | | | Esperanto has a life of its own. Original works |
| playing field between nations. Of course, most | | | | have been written in Esperanto, music is recorded |
| people reading this are thinking "one world | | | | in it, numerous websites and podcasts are in |
| language? - yeah, English. Anyone of consequence | | | | Esperanto and there is even a movie or two. |
| speaks it already." Not true. | | | | Unlike other constructed languages, it has a |
| English is an easy language to speak badly, but | | | | growing body of users world-wide, many in Asia |
| very few ever learn to speak it well. It's actually | | | | where it is popular because it is not English! |
| a rather difficult written language. It's very | | | | By the way, there is a term for this - |
| inconsistent, lots of irregularities and exceptions | | | | International Auxiliary Language. So far, Esperanto |
| and spelling is a nightmare, even for most native | | | | is the only International Auxiliary Language that |
| speakers of English. Not everyone learns English. | | | | has shown enough popularity, usefulness and |
| Of those who learn it, few learn it well enough to | | | | resilience to merit consideration as a second |
| use, and fewer still really master it. | | | | language common to all people and nations. The |
| Learning English also comes with a lot of political | | | | United Nations has even entertained the idea of |
| baggage. Some people may feel it is being | | | | using it as an auxiliary language. Time will tell if the |
| imposed upon them by American or British | | | | concept gains any steam, but I think that |
| imperialism or elitism. Any other national language | | | | ultimately a common second language is in |
| comes with similar restrictions or limitations. | | | | mankind's future. |
| So what other choice is there? | | | | |