150th Birthday of Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof, the inventor of Esperanto
Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof (December 15, 1859 – April 14, 1917) was an ophthalmologist, philologist, and the inventor of Esperanto, a constructed language designed for international communication.
Zamenhof was born on December 15, 1859 in the town of Białystok in Poland (then part of the Russian Empire). He considered his native language to be his father’s Russian (or perhaps Belarusian, which was not considered distinct from Russian at the time and which appears to have had a strong influence on Esperanto phonology), but also spoke his mother’s Yiddish natively; as he grew older, he spoke more Polish, and that became the native language of his children. His father was a teacher of German, and he also spoke that language fluently, though not as comfortably as Yiddish. Later he learned French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and English, and had an interest in Italian, Spanish and Lithuanian.
In addition to the Yiddish-speaking Jewish majority, the population of Białystok was made up of three other ethnic groups: Poles, Germans, and Belarusians. Zamenhof was saddened and frustrated by the many quarrels between these groups. He supposed that the main reason for the hate and prejudice lay in mutual misunderstanding, caused by the lack of one common language that would play the role of a neutral communication tool between people of different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.
References: China | 2009-12-14 17:06:13 | zh-CN | 世界语 (esperanto) 创始人柴门霍夫150周年 |
 Japan | 2009-12-14 17:06:33 | ja-JP | エスペラント語の創始者 LLザメンホフ 150回目の誕生日 |
 South Korea | 2009-12-14 17:06:40 | ko-KR | 에스페란토의 창시자 LL 자멘호프의 150번째 생일 |
 Hong Kong | 2009-12-14 17:06:59 | zh-HK | 世界語 (esperanto) 創始人柴門霍夫150週年 |
 Taiwan | 2009-12-14 17:07:13 | zh-TW | 世界語 (esperanto) 創始人柴門霍夫150週年 |
 Italy | 2009-12-14 23:06:02 | it-it | 150° anniversario della nascita di Zamenhof (inventore dell\'esperanto) |
 Armenia | 2009-12-14 23:06:10 | ru-RU | 150 лет со дня рождения Людвика Заменгофа – создателя эсперанто |
 Austria | 2009-12-14 23:06:16 | de-AT | 150. Geburtstag von LL Zamenhof (Erfinder von Esperanto) |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2009-12-14 23:06:23 | bs-Cyrl-BA | 150. Rođendan LL Zamenhof-a |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2009-12-14 23:06:29 | bs-Latn-BA | 150. Rođendan LL Zamenhof-a |
 Bulgaria | 2009-12-14 23:06:36 | bg-BG | 150-ти рожден ден на Л. Л. Заменхоф - основател на Есперанто |
 Belarus | 2009-12-14 23:06:47 | be-BY | 150 год з дня народзінаў Людвіка Заменгофа |
 Switzerland | 2009-12-14 23:06:53 | de-CH | 150. Geburtstag von LL Zamenhof (Erfinder von Esperanto) |
| Switzerland | 2009-12-14 23:06:59 | it-CH | 150° anniversario della nascita di Zamenhof (inventore dell\'esperanto) |
 Israel | 2009-12-14 23:07:17 | en-EN | יום הולדת 150 לאליעזר זמנהוף |
 Ukraine | 2009-12-14 23:08:11 | uk-UA | 150-й день народження Людвіга Замегофа, винахідника Есперанто |
 Germany | 2009-12-14 23:08:18 | de-DE | 150. Geburtstag von LL Zamenhof (Erfinder von Esperanto) |
 Spain | 2009-12-14 23:08:26 | es-ES | 150º aniversario del nacimiento de LL Zamenhof |
 France | 2009-12-14 23:08:33 | fr-FR | 150ème anniversaire de LL Zamenhof - le créateur de l\'espéranto |
 Greece | 2009-12-14 23:08:46 | el-GR | 150α Γενέθλια του LL Zamenhof / Ιδρυτή της Εσπεράντο |
 Moldova | 2009-12-14 23:09:01 | ro-RO | Aniversarea a 150 de ani de la naşterea lui L.L. Zamenhof, fondatorul Esperanto |
 Netherlands | 2009-12-14 23:09:11 | nl-NL | 150e verjaardag van LL Zamenhof |
 Poland | 2009-12-14 23:09:19 | pl-PL | 150 urodziny Ludwika Zamenhofa (twórcy esperanto) |
 Romania | 2009-12-14 23:09:28 | ro-RO | Aniversarea a 150 de ani de la naşterea lui L.L. Zamenhof, fondatorul Esperanto |
 Serbia | 2009-12-14 23:09:34 | sr-Cyrl-CS | 150-ти рођендан Л. Л. Заменхова, творца есперанта |
| Serbia | 2009-12-14 23:09:40 | sr-Latn-CS | 150-ти рођендан Л. Л. Заменхова, творца есперанта |
 Russia | 2009-12-14 23:09:45 | ru-RU | 150 лет со дня рождения Людвика Заменгофа – создателя эсперанто |
 Sweden | 2009-12-14 23:09:52 | sv-FI | LL Zamenhofs 150-årsjubileum (skaparen av språket Esperanto) |
| Sweden | 2009-12-14 23:09:58 | sv-SE | LL Zamenhofs 150-årsjubileum (skaparen av språket Esperanto) |
 Slovenia | 2009-12-14 23:10:03 | si-SI | 150. rojstni dan LL Zamenhofa, ustvarjalca esperanta |
 Slovakia | 2009-12-14 23:10:10 | sk-SK | Výročie narodenia L. L. Zamenhofa, zakladateľa esperanta |
 Turkmenistan | 2009-12-14 23:10:20 | ru-RU | 150 лет со дня рождения Людвика Заменгофа – создателя эсперанто |
 United States of America | 2009-12-15 05:05:38 | en-us | 150th Birthday of LL Zamenhof |
 Chile | 2009-12-15 05:06:12 | es-CL | 150º aniversario del nacimiento de LL Zamenhof |
 Argentina | 2009-12-15 05:06:40 | es-AR | 150º aniversario del nacimiento de LL Zamenhof |
 Colombia | 2009-12-15 05:06:51 | es-CO | 150º aniversario del nacimiento de LL Zamenhof |
 Mexico | 2009-12-15 05:07:14 | es-MX | 150º aniversario del nacimiento de LL Zamenhof |
Zamenhof was a peace hero and a good-hearted idealist. It is nice to see how Google helps to remind his legacy. Esperanto is a wonderful idea, and the best thing is that .. it works !
The very worst thing the Esperanto movement has going for it is the deification and adulation of the language’s designer. I am confident that if the guy was alive today (and there is some evidence of this in his history even) he would be the first to decry the use of his birthday as a special event for Esperantists (he publishes the specs anonymously in the first instance).
If Google truly wish to do something positive for the popularization of Esperanto the WILL NOT mention it on December 15th. But all means, choose another day, and the International Day of Peace on September 21st has been mooted by progressive supporters of Esperanto because it overlaps with the ideals of the movement, and not the deified idols birthday.
I shudder to think of Google adding to this debacle of adulation … thereby raising the profile of this charming language as a cult even higher with their global user base … a graver insult to Esperantists and Zamenhof I find hard to imagine frankly.
To oppose the language and it’s ideals would be be less harmful, a useful public debate and polemic inspires interest. To help brand it is a cult is frightening!
Moreover, the language was christened to so speak with publication of a book in 1887 and 150 years would bring us to 2037, so Google can wait a while before it joins the bandwagon of fringe cult creation by worshiping the 150th birthday of the author of that book (b. 1859). Which should afford us enough time to maybe find the date upon which this book was first printed and moot that as an annual celebratory day in preference to Zamenhof’s birthday.
The comment made on 15 Dec at 3.26 a.m. included a question: on which day was the 1887 book printed? Answer: 26 July. Some of us do in fact notice the day every year. The idea of turning it into a day for public discussion of the topic strikes me as quite good, actually.
I suppose one response to the comments about the alleged cult of Zamenhof might be that any proposal that leads to serious discussion around the theme is in principle welcome, but that it is not clear from the tone of these comments if their author in fact wishes to promote such discussion. Describing Zamenhof as the ‘designer’ of Esperanto is an instance of not moving to a serious level. Zamenhof launched a prototype draft in 1887, requested feedback about glitches, was told about one clear glitch, fixed it, got back to the public in 1888, gave up copyright, handed the language over to the public, and insisted that he should be described as the initiator of the language, not as its creator.
Good on you, Google! Esperanto is certainly worth celebrating.Humanity is nearly mature enough to recognize that it is one mob sharing one planet and that it won’t do to carry on as if the majority weren’t there. Esperanto is an affordable, effective means of communication, for both the poor and the busy, and provides an excellent basis for learning other languages.
December the 15th is as good a day as any to have a party with our Esperanto speaking friends and to reflect on Zamenhof’s and our own accomplishments. I haven’t been witness to any deification or adulation. Zamenhof was certainly a role model for creating something against all odds, and working tirelessly to achieve his goal. I’m probably biased because I have a portrait of Zamenhof in my living room, but nobody has caught me praying to him yet.
Multajn dankojn al vi, Guglo! Certe multe gravas la sukceso de Esperanto, kiu ŝajnas la sola efika proponita lingvkomunikilo!
One more reason to like you so much! Thank you Google!
Koran dankon Guglaj amikoj !
Esperanto vivas kaj disvolvas. Via pago estas bona ekzemplo, ke oni povas sukcese uzadi gxin en tutamondo por propagi pacan kunekzistecon de cxiu homaro. Vivu la Verda Stelo !
Esperanto estas granda lingvo. Longan vivon.
mi tre felicxas pro la omagxo!!!!!!
Dankegon!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dankon,Google.
Vere, Zamenhof kaj lia genia lingvo Esperanto meritas esti pli multe diskonatigita en la tutan mondon.
The 150th anniversary of this great man’s birth is fully worthy of Google’s commemoration. We Americans celebrate the births of great countrymen such as Washington, Lincoln and King without any silly cries of cultism. Anyone who sees “fringe” or “cult” in Esperanto has no judgment whatsoever. Other countries celebrate their own heroes. Remembering great people helps us remember their contributions and propel their ideals forward.
Thanks to Google for having the good judgment to honor Zamenhof and his ideals.
Thanks to Google for helping a bit to get people all over the world to think about Esperanto and Zamenhof’s vision of a neutral readily learnable language for the whole global community.
Dankon por la Esperanta linvo.
Dankon al Google por la Esperanta lingvo.
@Probal Dasgupta
July 26th it is. Thanks. I couldn’t find it anywher eon-line yesterday but now find it documented here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unua_Libro
I find not disturbing clashes here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_26
So I have a new agenda when I vists Esperanto clubs – trash Dec 15th, adopt Jul 26th!
@Detlef Karthaus
You misunderstood my idomatic reference to deification as a literal one it seems. Suffice it to say, that for most outsiders (read: people who know little or nothing about Esperanto) when they see a portrait of Zamenhof in your living room, I assure you a significant majority of randomly sampled people will judge you immediately as a probably cult-like fringe dwelly crazy … an equally significant proportion of those will be polite enough to keep it to themselves. I don’t care one jot whether you pray to him or not, what I care about is the many people who recieve this unnecessarily cult like image of speakers … I would rather they did not.
@Jim Ryan
I find the comparison with Washington, Lincoln and King hollow and ill considered. The ideas they championed, of democracy, freedom, equality … and more, have a long history of struggle and dynamic tension. Tension against societies which neglected these and had a demonstrable stream of refugees flowing from them into yours, a country of immigrants. Esperantio has no such phenomenon to report, I have yet to see any refugee from monolinguialism reach the shores of Esperantio, and rouse great support for the many behind him … the way King did with his “I have a dream …” speach for example. Even so, you fail entirely to consider the question of population dynamics. Consider that in the modern American world a majority of 250,000,000 citizens are in accord that the ideas Washington, Lincoln and King championed were worth honoring them for – a minority may still have issue with these graven images but the majority is there with you. Consider that there are about 13,000,000 people so in accord with the ideas of Joseph Smith and if they honoured his birthday the same way it would mean little to outsiders except perhaps to reinforce the image they already wear as a (rather popular) fringe cult … Zamenhof’s ideas are not accepted by a sufficient majority. Images of Zamehof, the respect of his brithday and regular reference to him, serve only to engender the image outsiders already easily garner of Esperantio as a cult, and the naivite of its proponents in this regard I can’t change, but if Google is sufficiently aware of the point of contention here, wishes however modestly to support Esperanto, and has any marketing savvy at all (IMHO) that it could wield to express that support, then they would hopefully avoid December 15th and target July 26th!
Bonege! Mi tre ĝojis vidi la flagon sur la Google-ĉefpaĝoj! Ankaŭ mi dankas al Google pro la omaĝo!
Mi gratulas al Google pro la omaĝo al D-ro Zamenhof kaj pro la disvastigado de la internacia lingvo.
Thanks to Google for honoring Dr. Zamenhof. He was a true visonary whose work is worthy of our attention even today…especially today. Longe vivu Esperanto!
Great one, Google!
Learning Esperanto changed my life. I now speak with hundreds of people around the globe every week, through msn, gmail, facebook, orkut, etc etc etc!
And I could speak with millions more, if only I had the time!
Gratulojn al Google!
Mi multe ŝatis vian omaĝon al Zamenhof, la kreinto de Esperanto, la 15an de decembro. Pro tio mi dankas vin.
“Esperanto, la lingvo por la interkompreniĝo de la Homaro”.
L’espéranto est certainement la solution la plus réussie au problème des langues ; dommage que son succès suscite tant de réactions négatives alors qu’il présente, au contraire, de multiples avantages : neutralité qui empêche toute hégémonie et qui permettrait la communication avec des groupes linguistiques avec qui on a des contacts nombreux, mais insuffisants pour apprendre leur langue ; accélération de l’apprentissage d’autres langues (on pourrait l’utiliser pendant qu’on apprend ou améliore une langue particulière dont on aurait besoin),…
E-o estas sendube la plej sukcesa solvo por la lingvaj problemoj : neûtreco sen hegemonio, sed helpanta kontaktoj kun popoloj aù homoj kun kiuj oni fluente havas kontaktojn sed ne oftajn por lerni ; pli rapida lernado de aliaj lingvoj (oni intertempe povus uzi gxin antaù kiam oni majstras la bezontan lingvon kiun oni lernas aù kies oni plibonigas la scipovon).
Dankon Google. Vi montris ke sufichus iom da helpo por ke la popoloj scias pri kio temas.
Google subtenas esperanton kaj ni esperantistoj subtenu amikecan platformon “Orkut”
Muito legal! Uma pena que nao foi usado no Brasil ou em Portugal. Mas, como falante do esperanto, adorei a homenagem!!!
Tre mojose! Domaghe ghi ne estis uzita en Brazilo au en Portugalujo. Sed kiel Esperanto-parolanto mi amegis la omaghon!!!
¡Muy bueno! Pena que no usaran en Brasil o en Portugal. Pero como hablante del esperanto mucho me gusto el homenaje!!!
Very nice! Unfortunately they haven’t used it in Brazil or in Portugal. But as Esperanto speaker I loved the homage!!!
Obrigado, Google! Dankon, Guglo! ¡Gracias, Google! Thanks, Google!
Gratulojn al Google!
Mi tre ghojas, ke vi aperigis tutmonde la simbolon de Esperanto!
Denove gratulojn!
Merci à Google pour ce joli clin d’oeil à l’Esperanto- la langue equitable !
Gratulojn kaj dankojn .
Congratulations, dear Google!
En la nomo de la 40-jara, Budapeŝta Medicina Esperanto-Fakgrupo mi elkore gratulas pro la bonega iniciato. La internacia uzado de iu ajn nacia lingvo faras ĉiujn, kiuj ne apartenas al la privilegiita nacio – simple duaklasaj lingvouzantoj. Nur internacia lingvo – kiel Esperanto – povas krei lingvan egalrajtecon.
Vidu ankaŭ nian plurlingvan retejon: http://www.egalite.fw.hu …
Amike
Ludoviko
Чудова ініціатива, яка допоможе більшій кількості людей дізнатися про таку видатну особистість, як Людовік Заменгоф та його чудовий винахід – міжнародну мову Есперанто! Велика подяка Гуглю за популяризацію мови Есперанто, за допомогою якого я без проблем спілкуюся з людьми з різних країн світу.
Bonega iniciato, kiu helpos al pli granda kvanto da homoj ekscii pri tiu eminenta persono – Sinjoro Ludoviko Zamenhaf kaj lia mirinda eltrovo – internacia lingvo Esperanto! Grandan dankon al Google pro tio, ke gxi popularigas lingvon Esperanto, dank’ al kiu mi senprobleme komunikigxas kun homoj el diversaj landoj.
Dankon Google!!!
Dankon google! estas ghojinda afero.
Miaj sinceraj dankoj al Guglo pro la nobla agado: Konigi nian pacan lingvon Esperanto al la tuta mondo.
Mi tra gxojas kaj dankas al google por la omagxo!
En la ukraina. Мабуть не усі ще оцінили те, що зроблено командою Гуглу у відношенні підтримки міжнародного руху есперантистів, самої мови та її автора Л.Замегофа! Браво, Гугл!
En Esperanto. Verŝajne ankoraŭ ne ĉiuj aprezis tion, kion faris Google-teamo rilate al subteno de internacia E-movado, mem la lingvo kaj ties aŭtoro L.Zamenhof! Brave al Google!
Bravo al Guglo, kaj dankon ! La Internacia Lingvo (Esperanto) bezonas la subtenon de ĉiuj ! Ni devas ankoraŭ kreskigi ĝin, uzi kaj uzigi ĝin, ĉar nia planedo bezonas tian ilon por komunikadi inter homoj !
DANKON, GOOGLE
Gratulojn al Google!
Vere, Zamenhof kaj lia genia lingvo Esperanto meritas esti pli multe diskonatigita en la tutan mondon.
ИБиз Македонија, Форум наменет за интернет бизнис и интернет маркетинг, black/white hat seo трикови. Дознајте како да успеете и да заработите, SEO совети и трикови….
[...]150th Birthday of Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof, the inventor of Esperanto | Doodlewatch[...]…