A universal language

• A world where everyone understands one another is a better world, written by a Swedish doctor in medicine, Hans Malv;
• Propaedeutic value of Esperanto has details of several experiments using Esperanto;
• International Languages and International Human Rights is another interesting site. Here is an extract from it:

Linguistic dominance has its origins in conquest, military and political subjugation, and economic exploitation. The role of language in imperial expansion has been a central element of the “Europeanisation” of the world. The underlying language policy was articulated in a pioneer language-planning document presented to the Spanish court in 1492 … . At that time the dominant languages in Europe were spoken by only a few million people and had no international currency. The contemporary status of English, French, Spanish and Portuguese indicates how successfully and ruthlessly the principle of language imposition was applied.

Empires grow and grow until they disintegrate and a favourite language is sooner or later superseded when the power - economic or military - which fostered it, or imposed it, loses its preponderance. Then there is a necessity to learn another language, the one of the new leading block. Is that practical?

We often hear of "many millions" needed to teach local literacy, let alone foreign languages. Much time, effort and money, could be saved and employed for more beneficial ends.

Even if students never subsequently use Esperanto, their new knowledge of etymology, their practise of logic and a positive experience with language makes the exercise worthwhile. They can make use of it however, and they will never lack confidence in travelling to non-English speaking regions, they will be able to learn other native languages much more effectively and will benefit from the goodwill generated by going halfway, with an easy neutral language, when conversing internationally.