Native Esperanto speakers
Encyclopedia
Native Esperanto speakers (in Esperanto denaskuloj or denaskaj esperantistoj) are born into families in which Esperanto
is spoken (usually along with other languages). This usually occurs when the parents meet each other at an Esperanto gathering but do not know each other’s native language. Often one or both parents choose to use Esperanto as the main language in communicating with the children, who thus acquire
the language in the way that other children acquire their native languages; those children then become natively multilingual. It also happens that the parents use Esperanto between themselves, but use another language when speaking with the children. Then the children, who wish to understand what the parents are saying between themselves, learn (or at least comprehend) spoken Esperanto.
Esperanto is not the primary language of any geographic region, outside of temporary gatherings (such as conventions like the World Congress of Esperanto
) and isolated offices (such as the World Esperanto Association
's central office in Rotterdam
). Consequently, native speakers have limited opportunity to meet one another except where meetings are specially arranged. For this reason, some parents consider it important to regularly bring their children to Esperanto conventions. Similarly, the annual Children's Congress of Esperanto (Infana Kongreseto) happens alongside the largest Esperanto convention, the World Congress of Esperanto
(Universala Kongreso). According to Ethnologue
, there are "200–2000 who speak Esperanto as a first language."
The most famous native speaker of Esperanto is businessman George Soros
, son of Tivadar Soros, publisher and writer in Esperanto. Also notable are young Holocaust victim Petr Ginz
, whose drawing of the planet Earth as viewed from the moon was carried aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia
, and Daniel Bovet
, the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
is spoken (usually along with other languages). This usually occurs when the parents meet each other at an Esperanto gathering but do not know each other’s native language. Often one or both parents choose to use Esperanto as the main language in communicating with the children, who thus acquire
Language acquisition
Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive, produce and use words to understand and communicate. This capacity involves the picking up of diverse capacities including syntax, phonetics, and an extensive vocabulary. This language might be vocal as with...
the language in the way that other children acquire their native languages; those children then become natively multilingual. It also happens that the parents use Esperanto between themselves, but use another language when speaking with the children. Then the children, who wish to understand what the parents are saying between themselves, learn (or at least comprehend) spoken Esperanto.
Esperanto is not the primary language of any geographic region, outside of temporary gatherings (such as conventions like the World Congress of Esperanto
World Congress of Esperanto
The World Congress of Esperanto has the longest tradition among international Esperanto conventions, with an almost unbroken run of more than a hundred years. The congresses have been held since 1905 every year, except during World Wars I and II...
) and isolated offices (such as the World Esperanto Association
World Esperanto Association
The World Esperanto Association is the largest international organization of Esperanto speakers, with members in 121 countries and in official relations with the United Nations and UNESCO. In addition to individual members, 70 national Esperanto organizations are affiliated to UEA...
's central office in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
). Consequently, native speakers have limited opportunity to meet one another except where meetings are specially arranged. For this reason, some parents consider it important to regularly bring their children to Esperanto conventions. Similarly, the annual Children's Congress of Esperanto (Infana Kongreseto) happens alongside the largest Esperanto convention, the World Congress of Esperanto
World Congress of Esperanto
The World Congress of Esperanto has the longest tradition among international Esperanto conventions, with an almost unbroken run of more than a hundred years. The congresses have been held since 1905 every year, except during World Wars I and II...
(Universala Kongreso). According to Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
, there are "200–2000 who speak Esperanto as a first language."
The most famous native speaker of Esperanto is businessman George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
, son of Tivadar Soros, publisher and writer in Esperanto. Also notable are young Holocaust victim Petr Ginz
Petr Ginz
Petr Ginz was a Czechoslovak boy of Jewish descent who was deported to the Terezín concentration camp during the Holocaust...
, whose drawing of the planet Earth as viewed from the moon was carried aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
, and Daniel Bovet
Daniel Bovet
Daniel Bovet was a Swiss-born Italian pharmacologist who won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of drugs that block the actions of specific neurotransmitters. He is best known for his discovery in 1937 of antihistamines, which block the neurotransmitter histamine and...
, the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
List of native speakers
Below is a list of noted native Esperanto speakers.- Daniel BovetDaniel BovetDaniel Bovet was a Swiss-born Italian pharmacologist who won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of drugs that block the actions of specific neurotransmitters. He is best known for his discovery in 1937 of antihistamines, which block the neurotransmitter histamine and...
- Petr GinzPetr GinzPetr Ginz was a Czechoslovak boy of Jewish descent who was deported to the Terezín concentration camp during the Holocaust...
- Kim J. HenriksenKim J. HenriksenKim Jan Henriksen - is a Danish Esperantist singer-musician. From his Polish-born mother Bogumiła Maria Henriksen and Danish-born father Kai L. Henriksen he learned Esperanto as a child, becoming prominent in the Esperanto youth movement and in the world of Esperanto rock music in the 1980s and...
- Ino KolbeIno KolbeIno Kolbe , born as Ino Voigt, was a German Esperantist. Both she and her brother Holdo Voigt learned Esperanto from birth....
- George SorosGeorge SorosGeorge Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
External links
- DENASK-L — Internet discussion group for Esperanto families
- About native Esperanto speakers