Esperanto

[Melki]

Esperanto was created by Doctor L.L. Zamenhof, a Polish Jew, in 1887.

I wished this artificial language was chosen to become Europe's international language of communication instead of English.
But no need to dream: it's too late for that. For nothing can stop English and its hegemony over the world, now.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of these Eurofags jealous of the international supremacy of English.
It's one of my favorite languages. Very practical with tons of short words and a flexible syntax, more attractive, at least in its written form, than French or German. English offers a seductive combination of words of mixed origins: both Germanic and Romance.

But as a foreigner, I prefer to communicate in English with native speakers, I don't want to use it as a tool for international communication.
International English is a soulless pidgin with no real home and a limited vocabulary.

Using Esperanto in Europe would make more sense, since it's a synthesis of various existing European languages.
The following short paragraph is directly quoted from Wikipedia:

The phonology, grammar, vocabulary, and semantics are based on the Indo-European languages spoken in Europe. The sound inventory is essentially Slavic, as is much of the semantics, whereas the vocabulary derives primarily from the Romance languages, with a lesser contribution from Germanic languages and minor contributions from Slavic languages and Greek.

Learning Esperanto is extremely easy. There are only 16 basic grammar rules to remember, with no exceptions or particular cases whatsoever.
Vocabulary is very simple, words are easy to pronounce for every nationality.
Besides, it has pleasant sonorities, reminiscent of many Romance or Slavic languages.

Although I've never been very motivated to learn this language (only spoken by less than 2 million people worldwide), I've assimilated the 16 rules and from time to time, I try to increase my vocabulary through passive learning (I mostly read Wikipedia pages in Esperanto)
Furthermore, Esperanto has an obvious propedeutical value: a study has demonstrated that learning it improves natural faculties to learn foreign languages.

Esperanto has obviously no chance to achieve world success. To me it only represents a good alternative to Globish-English, and reflects more the identity of continental Europe.
What is your opinion on that subject? Have you ever tried to learn this language ?
Do you find it beautiful or repulsive ?

[Shah-Jehan]

There's not much point learning it like you said.

[Danaan]

Repulsive. I would prefer something like Interlingua (or some other mostly Romance based auxiliary language) if I had to choose.

[Melki]

There's not much point learning it like you said.

Except if you want to travel around the world for free, thanks to Pasporta-Servo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasporta_Servo

[Al-Meksiki]

Esperanto por vivo

[Shah-Jehan]

Except if you want to travel around the world for free, thanks to Pasporta-Servo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasporta_Servo

Oh shoot, that's pretty interesting, but then again, there's probably a big lineup for these.

[Melki]

Repulsive. I would prefer something like Interlingua (or some other mostly Romance based auxiliary language) if I had to choose.

Interlingua sounds nice, but is even less succesful. Moreover, it's way too Romance to be the international language of Europe

[Melki]

My nickname "Melki" is Esperanto slang for "jerk off", borrowed from German "melken" = to milk (a cow)

It's not Arabic, contrary to what a certain pissed-off Filipino thought

[Shah-Jehan]

My nickname "Melki" is Esperanto slang for "jerk off", borrowed from German "melken" = to milk (a cow)

It's not Arabic, contrary to what a certain pissed-off Filipino thought

[Melki]

Shhhh !!! He might be spying on us, hidden behind a (tiny) bush