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Esperanto - A Universal Language
Esperanto, the first international language, was created by a Polish physician from Bialystok named Ludwik Zamenhof (1859 - 1917).
Taking note of the tense relations between Polish, Jewish, Russian and German ethnic communities living in his native Białystok, he decided to develop an idea of a language and its transcription, which would facilitate communication and mutual acceptance among the people. On July 26, 1887, under the pen name of Dr. Esperanto, he published in Warsaw Lingvo Internacia, the first Esperanto textbook. This small format book written in Russian summed up 15 years of the development of the international language basics. Thinking that the language should become a public domain of all nations, Ludwik Zamenhof waived the authorship rights to his creation.
Esperanto quickly gained admirers, especially in France and Germany. Esperanto clubs and associations were created; works of famous writers and poets were translated into Esperanto. In 1889, La Esperantistto was published - the first magazine written in the universal language. Five years later, Ludwik Zamenhof published the first Esperanto dictionary, Universala Vortaro, and then Fundamento de Esperanto - language fundamentals with a section on grammar and a dictionary. In 1905, nearly 700 language enthusiasts came to the first World Esperanto Congress, and Ludwik Zamenhof was decorated with the Legion of Honor. After a motion by Hector Hodler from Switzerland, the Universal Esperanto Association - Universala Esperanto-Asoci - was created in 1908.
The international language created by Ludwik Zamenhof has kept fans in numerous countries till today. Majority of great literary works have been translated into this language. The Universal Esperanto Association (UEA) is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. One of its branches is also located in New York City, near the United Nations headquarters.
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