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The International Auxiliary Language Esperanto Grammar and Commentary By: George Cox (1838-1909) |
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COMPILED BY
Major General George Cox
B.A. (Cantab.) FOURTH EDITION
REVISED B.E.A. Publications Fund, No. 14 LONDON:
BRITISH ESPERANTO ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATED [ All rights reserved ] Reprinted, January, 1939 Printed in Great Britain
PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION
In this Fourth Edition of a work which, since its first appearance
in August, 1906, has had a very favourable reception among
English speaking Esperantists in all parts of the world, advantage
has been taken of the necessity for reprinting the work, to make
a thorough revision of the text, and to introduce some other
improvements. Major General Cox, born 1838, the author of the Commentary, died on
27th October, 1909, and the revision of the work has been carried out
under the direction of the British Esperanto Association
(Incorporated). Footnotes to the Preface to the First Edition have been introduced to
record facts not known to the author at the time.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
Esperanto is the International Auxiliary Language created by Dr. L.
L. Zamenhof, a doctor of medicine, residing at Warsaw, Poland. It
is now hardly necessary to mention this fact, but there was a time,
not very long ago, when many people thought that Esperanto was a
patent medicine, or new kind of soap, or, in fact, anything except a
language! Its aim is not to displace existing languages, but to be a
second language for the world, and its merits are now recognized
by many eminent men of all nationalities.[1] If we consider the enormous advantages of a common language,
understood by all, we shall at once confess what a blessing Dr.
Zamenhof has conferred upon mankind, for: Firstly. It enables anyone to correspond on any topic, social,
commercial, or scientific, with persons of all nationalities.[2] Secondly. Books of all descriptions can at once be translated
into this common language, and sold all over the world; consequently,
scientific and medical men will not have to wait, perhaps years,
before some important treatise appears in their own language. Lovers of fiction would also have at command the works of all the
best foreign novelists.[3] Thirdly. At international congresses the speeches and discussions
could be in Esperanto, and understood by all present, the aid of
interpreters being unnecessary, by which great saving of time would
be effected.[4] Fourthly. Treaties and Conventions with foreign Powers could be
drawn up in the international language, and there would be no
difficulty in determining their exact signification.[5] Esperanto was first introduced into Great Britain by Mr. Joseph
Rhodes, of Keighley, Yorkshire, who formed the first group in that
town in 1902. Shortly afterwards, in January, 1903, a group was
formed in London, under the auspices of Mr. W. T. Stead, Editor
of the "Review of Reviews," Miss E. A. Lawrence, and Mr. J. C.
O'Connor, M.A., Ph.D., which resulted in the foundation of the
present London Esperanto Club. The first English Esperanto Gazette
was founded by Mr. H. Bolingbroke Mudie, in November, 1903; this
was followed in January, 1905, by "The British Esperantist," the
official organ of the British Esperanto Association , which
was then founded as the official organization of the Esperantists
of the British Empire. Progress in the language was at first slow,
but it is now advancing by leaps and bounds, and there are at
present, in England, Ireland, and Scotland, some 60[6] societies,
groups, and clubs, affiliated to the British Esperanto Association .
There is also now an American Esperanto Association, with already a
large number of energetic groups.[7] I hope that those who take up this Commentary on Esperanto will not
think it necessary to wade through all its pages before they can
read and write the language. All that is necessary for this purpose
is to read the 16 simple rules, written by Dr... Continue reading book >>
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