A conlang outlined in "La internacia lingvo" (The International Language), published in 1887 by the language's creator, L.L. Zamenhof. The name Esperanto means 'one who is hoping' in the language, and was applied to the language because Zamenhof used the name Dr. Esperanto as a pseudonym. Designed specifically for ease of learning and use, Esperanto is the most widely spoken constructed interlanguage in the world, with an upper estimate of over two million speakers today (however, the lowest estimates place this at a few hundred thousand). In continuous use since its original publication, Esperanto has its own sizeable body of both original and translated literature, newsletters, blogs, and radio broadcasts. Esperanto's use has skyrocketed with the advent of the internet, and user levels will soon be nigh impossible to gauge.
Esperanto has appeared in popular culture on several occasions, usually for ridicule as a 'failed project.' It was most notably used on signs in Charlie Chaplain's "The Great Dictator," for PA announcements in the dystopia film "GATACA," and as the spoken language in William Shatner's first sci fi film, "Inkubus" (Esperanto "Inkubo").
Esperanto has appeared in popular culture on several occasions, usually for ridicule as a 'failed project.' It was most notably used on signs in Charlie Chaplain's "The Great Dictator," for PA announcements in the dystopia film "GATACA," and as the spoken language in William Shatner's first sci fi film, "Inkubus" (Esperanto "Inkubo").
La internacia lingvo, Esperanto, estas planlingvo kun tre regula gramatico. L.L. Zamenhof planis por ghi esti la dua lingvo de la mondo, sed kun malmulte da sukceso. Tamen, Esperanto estas ankorau uzanta hodiau kaj havas pli ol miliono da parolantoj (kaj la nomero multighas).
by Andrew Broz June 21, 2006
(1) The most successful constructed language so far. It's aimed to be an easy-to-learn and culturally neutral language for international communication. It has, however, been criticised for being too euro-centric and incorporating lots of grammatical features (case marking, agreement of adjectives, several participles) that are quirky to speakers of many non-European languages.
(2) A general term for something artifactual or unnatural, without foundations in the culture of ordinary people.
(2) A general term for something artifactual or unnatural, without foundations in the culture of ordinary people.
by dattdso January 1, 2011
A language nobody speaks except for language nerds. A failed international language, but a great hobby language. If people stopped expecting everyone to learn it, so many more would
by ksdhnkj.sdhfkj July 4, 2018
Latin modified to actually function as a language but with a vocabulary and grammar dumbed down enough that there's a chance Americans can learn it
by The golden Leonard July 21, 2020
by TINACO October 22, 2019
An international language, created by Zamenhof and published in 1887. It's one of the easiests languages and milions of people now speak in Esperanto. The title means 'the one, who is hopeing'.
by Neaktiva esperantisto July 20, 2004