LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Esperanto
built 646 days ago
The core vocabulary of Esperanto was defined by Lingvo internacia, published by Zamenhof in 1887. It comprised 900 roots, which could be expanded into the tens of thousands of words with prefixes, suffixes, and compounding. In 1894, Zamenhof published the first Esperanto dictionary, Universala Vortaro, with a larger set of roots. However, the rules of the language allowed speakers to borrow new roots as needed, recommending only that they look for the most international forms, and then derive related meanings from these.
Source:
With the publication of the pamphlet 'Lingvo Internacia' in 1887, Esperanto is born. L.L. Zamenhof (1859-1917) introduces, with this pamflet, his plan for a simple, international language, intended to bring people and nations together. The grammar is strictly systematic, 60 percent of the vocabulary is derived from Roman languages. Zamenhof made his design during his childhood years in Bailystok, a place troubled with conflicts between Polish, German, Russian and Jewish populations.
Source:
A second linguistic feature of Esperanto that was conducive to its success was closely linked to the first. Esperanto makes extensive use of prefixes and suffixes to expand the relatively small vocabulary of basic roots. While nothing prevents the assimilation of additonal roots, the constant availability of ad-hoc compounds of core elements rapidly amplifies a learner's vocabulary.
Source:
![[www.lernu.net]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/e/s/p/esperanto/i/021.gif)
Esperanto was developed over a period of ten years, during which it was constantly revised and tested. Its creator, Dr. L.L. Zamenhof, finally introduced it in 1887. It has been in use ever since.
Source:
McSchwartzenheimer Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto, was born on March 17th, 67 B.C. in then Roman-occupied Dalmatia, to Tullius Gaius Zamenhof and Hobag McGirk. After he was accidentally shot through the head with an XQ-45 Hyperlaser guided missile pilfered from an unsuspecting trio of Manhattan police officers, it was discovered that Zamenhof was a werehamster.
Source:
The most famous native speaker of Esperanto is businessman George Soros. Also notable is young Holocaust victim Petr Ginz, whose drawing of the planet Earth as viewed from the moon was carried aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Esperanto