Esperanto

For a general introduction to Esperanto, see the public article at WikiPedia:Esperanto page.

Esperanto study deemed praiseworthy; decision as to world language left to leaders or possibly House of Justice

“With regard to Arabic, in several Tablets Baha'u'llah praises the vastness and eloquence of the Arabic language, but in none of His Writings does He state that His followers are required to learn that language. In a number of instances `Abdu'l-Baha and the Guardian have both encouraged the believers in the West to learn Persian. Similarly, `Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi on occasion encouraged believers in Europe and Asia to study English. And, as you are no doubt aware, the involvement of the friends in the study of Esperanto has also been deemed praiseworthy. However, the choice as to which language will ultimately be selected as the international auxiliary language has been left by Baha'u'llah, in His Book of Laws, to the leaders of the nations or possibly to the House of Justice to decide.”

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, an email dated 10 February 1998 to an individual)

Esperanto: no reference that it will necessarily become international auxiliary language; Bahá'ís advised to study Esperanto to facilitate inter-communication in the present stage of the Faith

"Regarding the subject of Esperanto: It should be made clear to the believers that while the teaching of that language has been repeatedly encouraged by Abdu'l-Bahá, there is no reference either from Him or from Bahá'u'lláh that can make us believe that it will necessarily develop into the international auxiliary language of the future. Bahá'u'lláh has specified in His writings that such a language will have either to be chosen from one of the existing languages, or an entirely new one should be created to serve as a medium of exchange between nations and peoples of the world. Pending this final choice, the Bahá'ís are advised to study Esperanto only in consideration of the fact that the learning of this language can considerably facilitate inter-communication between individuals, groups and Assemblies throughout the Bahá'í world in the present stage of the evolution of the Faith."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, June 4, 1937: Bahá'í News, No. 109, July 1937, p. 1, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1140)

Esperanto Will Spread to a Certain Degree

"Thou has written regarding the language of Esperanto. This language will be spread and universalized to a certain degree, but later on a language more complete than this, or the same language will undergo some changes and alterations and will be adopted and become universal...."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 692, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1142)

A council will form a universal language with words from different languages, with no exceptions to rules, no exact synonyms, no gender, and no extra and silent letters

"A friend enquired concerning Bahá'u'lláh's prophecy in the Words of Paradise, that a universal language would be formed, and desired to know if Esperanto would be the language chosen.

""The love and effort put into Esperanto will not be lost," he answered, "but no one person can construct a Universal Language. It must be made by a Council representing all countries, and must contain words from different languages. It will be governed by the simplest rules, and there will be no exceptions; neither will there be gender, nor extra and silent letters. Everything indicated will have but one name. In Arabic there are hundreds of names for the camel! In the schools of each nation the mother tongue will be taught, as well as the revised Universal Language.""

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, p. 94)

This content belongs to Pilgrim's notes, notes known not to have an original language text or transcript and which "may be interesting but not authoritative" to Bahá'ís

See also

• World auxiliary language

To-dos for this page

Possible items for this page to portray the Bahá'í view of Esperanto specifically: (as I recall from the Writings)

1. Bahá'ís encouraged to use Esperanto for the purposes of fostering contacts
2. Bahá'ís encouraged to use Esperanto to promote Assembly correspondence (at least in an earlier stage in the Faith).
3. Esperanto is not necessarily one we endorse as the final choice nor is it necessarily the language to be chosen (though some passages of varying authenticity may seem to endorse or encourage it--at least with modifications)

(All of the above would need to be confirmed and cross-referenced)