ガントレットの寄稿記事『The Japan Weekly Mail』1905.7.29, p117「ESPERANTO」

英字新聞『The Japan Chronicle』1905.7.20号に「AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE」と題するエスペラント紹介記事が出たのを受けて、ガントレットが同紙1905.7.27号にエスペラント支持と通信講座の告知を寄稿。それに合わせて同時に『The Japan Weekly Mail』にも寄稿している。

          ESPERANTO
     (TO THE EDITOR OF THE “JAPAN MAIL”)
     Sir—I should like, with your kind permission, to say a few words in favour of Esperanto, the new artificial language which is making such headway in England. It was invented by Dr. Zamenhof, of Warsaw, and has been published about twelve or thirteen years on the continent of Europe, but perhaps barely two years in England, though there are Englishmen who have known the language for a longer period. It was brought to my notice by a friend who wanted me to study it with him, but, knowing what had been the fate of former attempts at artificial languages, I had no idea of learning it, but was converted after looking through the textbook for an hour. I had the same idea as many other people, namely, that the idea was impossible. I am, however, convinced that it is not only possible, but that it is an accomplished fact. The inventor must have been a genius. It cannot be called a totally artificial language, for it consists of the elements of the Indo-Germanic stock made regular. There is not an exception to a rule in the language! How pleasant this would be, and what trouble it would save the writer, a teacher of English, were this the case in his own language! Some have argued that it would be as hard for Japanese to learn and speak as English would be, but that is not so, for my experience in English is that I teach hardly anything but exceptions. There are several magazines published in Esperanto. One, which I have before me now, is called the “ Internacia Scienca Revuo ; Monata Organo en Esperanto,” which needs no translation into English. Among its contributors are some well-known professors and scientists in France, England, Belgium, Germany, and other countries. When I started the study of the language, there was no magazine published in England to support it; there are now two. There are also magazines published in France, Holland, Belgium, Russia, Bohemia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Algeria, Canada, etc., in some of which countries from two to four magazines are published. I studied the text-book two hours a day for four days, and then wrote letters—with some little difficulty—to Europe and South America. I studied it on and off during the summer of 1903, since which time I have received and sent about six hundred post cards and letters in that language. I I [sic] have used it principally as an aid in the collection of picture cards and postage stamps. Of the latter I have now about 1,700 different specimens from about sixty-five different countries, and I began to collect in January last year. Of course this is not the main object in learning the language; I did so only from choice. I have had long and interesting correspondence with people in European countries on various topics, and have been able to gain and furnish information much more easily than would have otherwise been the case.
     To learn the grammar is mere child's play, especially to any one who knows anything of grammar ; and to those who have a knowledge of Latin, the memorizing of the words is easy. To give an idea of the grammar; every noun ends in o, as revuo, a review, scienco, a science, libro, a book: every adjective ends in a, as scienca, scientific, alta, high, varma, warm: every adverb ends in e, as science, scientifically, add, highly, varme, warmly; every infinitive ends in i,as kuri, to run, scribi, to write; the present tense ends in as, mi skribas, I write, am writing, the past in is, mi scribis I wrote , was writing, etc. If it should be necessary to make a clear distinction between the times expressed by I wrile
and I am writing, it can be done with perfect ease, yet the simple tenses are, as a rule, quite sufficient. The accusative case is marked by the addition of n to the regular termination, and adjectives agree with the nouns they modify number and case, number being denoted by the addition of j (pronounced’as a short e, or y in body): thus
 Bona infano, a good child.
 Mi vidis bonan infanon, I saw a good child.
 La bonaj infanoj estas en la domo, the good children are in the house.
 Mi vidis la bonajn infanojn, I saw the good children.
     This addition of n to mark the accusative case makes it possible to write the words in almost any order, as is the case in Latin, without any fear of ambiguity, In letters I have received from Russia, Italy, Turkey, India, etc., there have been slight variations in the order of words, but never the least doubt as lo the intention of the writer. The addition of the vowels o, a, and e, to mark the parts of speech can be used in almost any case. For instance, there is a prefix which shows opposites, (mal), as alta, high, malalta, low ; levi, to raise, mallevi, to lower ; but this prefix may itself be a word, as, mala, contrary, male, contrarily ; madi, to be contrary, to oppose. With regard to this prefix, mal, it can easily be seen what an immense amount of labour it saves in the memorizing of words. Esperanto contains about thirty such prefixes and suffixes, which in a similar way save an immense amount of study. With regard to pronunciation, it is not difficult. There are five vowels—the same as in Japanese. There is only one sound not found in English, that is the ch of the German buch. Every letter is sounded. No letter has two sounds. The vowels are all of one length. The accent is always on the penult. It is easy to speak, having a pleasant sound. The writer spoke Esperanto for five hours at a stretch with a gentleman with whose native language he has a very limited knowledge, and there was not the least difficulty in being understood. Among those who support the language may be mentioned the names of Count Leo Tolstoi, the late Jules Verne, Dr. Lloyd, the well-known phonetician of Liverpool University, and others whose names I cannot remember. It should be clearly understood that the inventor never intended this language to supplant any other. It is only intended to be an auxiliary language for use between peoples whose tongues are mutually unintelligible. It took me several years to learn French, and perhaps a month to learn Esperanto; but I should not dare to attempt a public speech in the former without Considerable preparation, whereas in the latter I should not have much hesitation. I am so convinced of the future utility of this language that! shall be glad to give lessons in it by correspondence, free of charge, the learner paying only the postage and for any text-books he may wish to purchase. Those who desire to take up the course will kindly address "Esperantist" care of the Japan Mail. The lessons will commence about the 15th of September, but the writer would like to receive applications as soon as possible, so that hemay know how many papers should be prepared.
     Apologizing for having taken up so much of your space,
     I am, dear Sir, very faithfully yours,
                               ESPERANTIST

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最終アクセス：2024-01-27

ここのでの署名は「ESPERANTIST」のみであるが、この後11月25日号に「ESPERANTIST No, 8413」（8413は、ガントレットのAdresaro登録番号）として、通信講座の報告と追加募集の記事を寄稿しており、この記事もガントレットによるものだとわかる。