CNN iReport

In the virtual world of Second Life one can learn numerous different languages. Non-English speakers have plenty of opportunities to learn the language, and for us there are classes taught on German, Spanish, and other tongues. Today I came across a language called Esperanto, and I was determined to find out what it is. At first I thought Esperanto was a language only limited to Second Life, because I had never heard of it before. Come to find out, it is a real life universal language with up to 2 million speakers. “Esperanto was created a little more than 100 years ago with the idea that it could be a ‘universal second language,’” said Bonulino Kanto, who speaks both English and Esperanto. The language comes from a mix of Germanic, Romantic, and Slavic terms. As more people learn the language, more words from other cultures have been added to the mix. Though the language looks hard before learning, many of the speakers say it is easier to learn than other natural languages. One reason is Esperanto lacks irregular nouns and verbs. In Second Life, there are a few regions that use Esperanto. The region where I discovered the language was called Capitol City. There are several pictures of the region shown above. Capitol City also gives Esperanto language classes for beginners as well as advanced speakers. Notecards containing rules of grammar and common phrases are available inside the Esperanto-USA tent. Esperanto-USA offers free lessons of the language over the mail. Also mailed to those interested is an option for membership. For more information on the real life organization for Esperanto check out: http://esperanto-usa.org/ With a language that is much simpler to learn than English, French, or Mandarin why does this language lack use in international business? Surely a language such as this that all regions of the world can learn with less trouble should be used. “A lot of people are advocating for that,” said Kanto, “but people who speak one of the major languages all want their own language to be the universal language.” So 100 years later is Esperanto having an effect on the world? Well aside from the little things such as Pasporta Servo, which allows Esperanto speakers to travel around the world staying with other Esperanto speakers willing to host them, there has been little use in real life for the language. With Second Life being used as a way to spread the word about the language, we may see a conversion from it being a novelty, to something the entire world starts to use. Dankon, Ĝis revido. (Thank you, goodbye.)