Esperanto (The Universal Language)/Preface to the Revised Edition
Preface to the Revised Edition
This revised edition of my Grammar of the Auxiliary International Language, "Esperanto"—the first published for English readers—has had the great advantage of the personal supervision and official approval of the founder, Dr. Zamenhof.
That it has been prepared to supply a want is not a mere façon de parler. Prior to the appearance of the first edition hundreds of inquirers, from most widely separated sections at home and abroad had written urgently requesting a grammar suitable for English students. These inquirers, for the most part, came to know of the existence of "Esperanto" through the medium of pamphlets, leaflets, letters in the public Press, etc., which could give, of necessity, only the merest idea and outline of the language.
In compiling a book to meet this demand my chief desire and aim has been to prepare a Grammar, which, while being complete in all its parts and containing everything that is necessary for a sound knowledge of the language, should be brief, clear, full, but not redundant.
To the following gentlemen I return my best thanks for their exceeding great kindness and cordial co-operation:—Monsieur L. de Beaufront, President of the Committee of Direction (for Esperanto) in France, who has written the "Conversations,"[1] etc., in Section II.; The Honourable R. H. Geoghegan, to whom, in great measure, I am indebted for the chapter on the Participle; Mr. Joseph Rhodes, F.J.S., President of the Esperanto Society, Keighley, Yorks (the first society established for the study of the language in England), who, despite his many literary duties, has given me valuable assistance in revising this new edition; to Monsieur P. Ahlberg, President of the Esperanto Society, Stockholm, to whom I am indebted for the greater number of the Commercial letters in Section III.; and to Mr. Charles Hayes, Wandsworth, who also has given me valuable assistance in preparing this Grammar for publication.
17, St. Stephen's Square, Bayswater, W.
- ↑ These dialogues originally appeared in L'Espérantiste from the pen of Monsieur de Beaufront. This is a monthly journal, printed in French and Esperanto, and published in Paris. To all desirous of perfecting themselves in the language it will prove a most valuable aid. It can be had by applying to the Secretary, Esperanto Society, 10, Place de la Bourse, Paris.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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