Vancouver Esperanto Society
ESPERANTO worldwide in 2010!World calendar of events using Esperanto (it's not just a project - for thousands it's an already functioning reality! We invite you to investigate - then join us!)
Briefly stated, we are a grassroots movement for:
° equal & equitable language rights through universal bi-lingualism ["YOUR ethnic language + non-ethnic Esperanto" for all] - there IS an alternative to harmful ethno-linguistic hegemony unconcerned for the ecology of languages ° a democratic & fair world language order (no special privileges for any select group(s) - the burden of inter-ethnic communication to be shared equally by all on a level playing-field)
° efficient, effective (and cost-effective!), & a personally rewarding, second-language learning experience for all
° preserving & promoting the world's linguistic & cultural diversity; increasing public awareness of linguicide & linguicism [analogous to genocide & racism, but language-based], & of endangered languages & language issues in general
° respect for all other cultures, & promotion of transnational & multidirectional education (not limited to one ethnic language area or a unidirectional & asymmetrical information-flow)
° human emancipation, where language is not used as a barrier to exclude & deny full participation, but a bridge to include & provide equal access to all
For more detail, choose from Menu on left:
1) Why Esperanto?
2) Update on Esperanto
and see also Prague Manifesto
Or if you want the real nitty-gritty (and have all day to spare!), try this or this.
For a quick overview of the language and grammar, choose "Links" from Menu on left, then "B - Key to Esperanto".
To read Sylvan Zaft's Peter Jameson's Secret Language click here.
Or his Esperanto: A Language for the Global Village click here.
For Claude Piron's Some Comments on [linguistics professionals'] Ignorance about Esperanto click here.
There is quite an extensive underground of Esperanto discussion groups. Some are listed here.
And there are about 150 Esperanto BLOGS listed here. Some others, listed by country, are here. Attention! - the language is not always grammatically impeccable!
Why, do you suppose, are scholars and researchers not aware of all the technical material produced in Esperanto, some of which is listed here?
For a list of 430 authors from around the world of original literature in Esperanto, click here:  .
And for the ever popular "How to talk dirty in Esperanto" [prudes beware!], click the star  . And for related taboo words and phrases go here.
And if you've never heard Esperanto spoken before, try listening to one of the daily 20 min. podcasts from 
Or a daily one-hour program from  Radio CHINA INTERNATIONAL. [Right column > "Radio online" - click on appropriate day of week]
Or a weekly one from Rome/Italy: 
Or thrice weekly from 
More information on the planned, non-territorial, non-ethnic/neutral International Language Esperanto [the same second language for all/Universal bilingualism] can be found on our other pages (listed in the Menu to the left!), or via the 55 links on our LINKS page. Links to other national and international Esperanto associations can also be found there. Multilingual info [now in 62 languages!] is available through the following graphic:
For a listing of political groups using Esperanto click here.
Interesting pages about language & languages in general
The Vancouver Esperanto Society is an informal group of Esperanto-speakers, who meet regularly to practise the language in a downtown location. At the moment, we have members with the following ethnic backgrounds:
Canadian, First Nations, Czech, Ukrainian, Romanian, Afghani, Manx, Swiss, German, Filipino, Iranian, Serbian, Polish, Italian, Korean, Maltese/Hungarian, Mexican, Japanese, Punjabi & Kazakh/Russian. Since the summer of '99 we have hosted visiting Esperanto-speakers from Brazil, Japan, USA, France, Australia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Denmark, Bulgaria, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Ireland & Iran.
  
Introductory crash-courses - most are FREE!
And for an intermediate-level course click here
 
 
"Does not the sun shine equally for the whole world? Do we not all equally breathe the air? Do you not feel shame at authorizing only three languages and condemning other people to blindness and deafness? Tell me, do you think that God is helpless and cannot bestow equality, or that he is envious and will not give it?"
Constantine the Philosopher (Cyril), 9th Century A.D.
“Siempre la lengua fue compañera del imperio.” [Language has always been the partner of empire]
Antonio de Nebrija, La Gramática Castellana, 1492.
If you agree with the goals as stated in the Prague Manifesto, & are willing to help us spread the word in Canada or
elsewhere, we invite you to add your name to our list of VES-members. [> > Join] Aù, se vi jam sufic^e lingve kompetentas pri Esperanto, aldonu vian nomon al nia kanada tutlanda k/aù al nia vankuvera listo c^e:
Click to join esperanto-ca
Click to join esperanto-vankuvero
 Paske k Kristnaske de 2002-2008 post la Papa Beno "Urbi et Orbi" en Esperanto romaj Esperantistoj montris sian c^eeston al la tuta mondo!
Alklaku por legi la mesag^on k por vidi la lastajn fotojn c^i tie!
For the past 10 years John Paul II included Esperanto in the 60+ languages of his "urbi et orbi" blessing. Pope Benedict XVI has followed this now well-established tradition. To hear his short Christmas 2008 greeting in Esperanto click on the previous link, then on the link at the end of the first paragraph.
To read Ulrich Matthias: Esperanto - the New Latin for the Church & for Ecumenism, 2002, click here.
Getting started - Recommended books & background reading: [Richardson is for beginners, and includes an excellent introduction and bibliography; Butler is better used as a reference or review grammar for those who have already mastered the basics]
The Canadian Esperanto Association is a registered Canadian non-profit association - all donations are income-tax deductible. Annual membership is presently C$25 - for a printable membership form click on previous link/CEA [then click Membreco/Membership]. Our bookstore/Libroservo is located in Montreal:
libroservoOMIT@esperanto.qc.ca
[10% discount for
association members!]
The Universala Esperanto-Asocio , based in Rotterdam, is an NGO having official relations with both the UN and Unesco. Annual membership is C$86 [includes 310p. Yearbook, monthly magazine, & a copy of the current 190p. book catalogue (while supplies last)]. For on-line membership from any country (the standard category is "MA") click here.
Check out our LINKS page for much more information!
Read newspapers from around the world!:
ALTERNATIVELY, you could always try listening to a weekly 5-minute broadcast in Classical Latin (with a strong Finnish accent!) by clicking on this graphic (then on "Recitatio"):
 CASE CLOSED! Need we say more?!
Or else check the amusing progress (?!) English is making around the world by clicking here:
Recent visitors (as of May 20/09) to this site were from:
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