Can you speak Japanese? Can you speak Russian? Throughout the world there are thousands of different languages. Wouldn't life be a lot easier if there were just one language which we all spoke?
For many years people have been trying to create a simple universal language that would serve all over the world as a common means of communication. In the last three hundred years, more than seven hundred such languages have been suggested. The most successful and the most popular of these is a language called Esperanto.
It was invented by Ludwig Zamenhof, who lived in Poland. When he was growing up he saw that people from different backgrounds who lived in Poland had lots of difficulties communicating with each other. This often led to disagreements. Ludwig felt that a common language would help them understand each other better and agree with each other. So he began working on a common international language. He started his work while he was still at school!
In 1887, he published some information about his new language. He did not use his real name. He used the name Dr Esperanto (which means 'one who hopes'). Soon people from all over the world became interested in his language, called 'Esperanto'.
Today, Esperanto is spoken by about eight million people throughout the world. Many governments and international organisations recognise it in many ways. Esperanto is often used on radio broadcasts from official government stations.
1.What have people been trying to create for many years?
2. Who invented Esperanto?
3. Why did Ludwig Zamenhof feel a common language was necessary?
3. Why did Ludwig Zamenhof feel a common language was necessary?
4. What does 'Esperanto' mean?
5. How many people speak Esperanto today?
6. What does the word 'universal' mean?
7. Why do you think people all over the world speak different languages?
8. Do you think Esperanto is a good idea? Explain your reasons.
1 Copy each definition. Choose the correct common noun for each.
hospital handkerch ief doctor shop pencil tailor
a) someone who looks after us when we are ill
a) someone who looks after us when we are ill
b) someone who makes clothes
c) a place where you buy things
d) a place where you go when you are ill
e) something you write with
f) something you blow your nose with
2 Copy this list of nouns. After each say if it is a common noun (CN) or proper noun (PN).
a) Ludwig ( PN )'
b) boy ( CN )
c) rock (_)
d) Mount Kilimanjaro (_)
e) crack (_)
f) Poland (_)
g) Mecca (_)
h) Europe (_)
i) snake (_)
i) snake (_)
j) River Nile (_)
k) foot (_)
l) telephone (_) [9]
