Talking up: Barbara Toreharne and John and Elrae Adams fly the flag for Esperanto.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BEFORE the Tower of Babel, so the good book tells us, we all spoke a single language.
Everyone understood each other and everyone cooperated, ensuring major building projects got off to a quick start.
But the whole development was scuttled when the good Lord decided a united mankind was too cocky and introduced a confusion of languages.
Enter Polish doctor Ludwig Zamenhof who constructed a new language, called Esperanto, to foster harmony.
Living in the last part of the 19th Century, he proposed his universal second language as a way to lessen the disputes, fights and wars he witnessed.
A group of people on the Surf Coast thought that was a pretty neat idea, so they formed the nucleus of Torquay Esperanto Club.
Club leader John Adams said the 125-year-old language was unifying and growing quietly around the world.
“Ten years ago my wife and I were retired and wanted something to exercise our brains to keep mentally active,” John explained.
“We found a website and started learning Esperanto and joined the Melbourne club.
“Soon after we made contact with other Torquay residents learning Esperanto, so we decided to start a local club about five or six years ago.
“We’ve been meeting ever since, learning and studying the language. We converse in it and there are quite a few publications in Esperanto for us to read.”
John said Esperanto-speaking international visitors often dropped in, grateful for the opportunity to speak to a local even though their natural languages were different.
“As members of the Australian Esperanto Association we can attend international Esperanto congresses or an annual summer school.”
John admitted the profile of Esperanto around the world needed to be raised.
“There’s still a huge amount of work to be done but the internet has made a big difference.
“If Australian leaders showed some interest I’m sure more Australians would take it up.”
John said learning was easy.
“It only takes a few weeks to pick it up, although takes years to be proficient.
“If children learn it they can use Esperanto as a stepping stone to other languages.
“But we just enjoy the challenge of doing it. The way the language is put together is fascinating, it’s simple but it makes sense.”
John said the Esperanto association was approaching universities around Australia to create greater interest in the language.
“We’re talking to Deakin about participating in the orientation days for this year.
“We have programs that enable someone to learn Esperanto in 125 days, complete with a teacher, over the internet. The club also has a library of Esperanto books.”
John said Torquay Esperanto Club met on the first Saturday of every month. Anyone interested in joining could phone him on 0421 043 272, he said.
