Esperanto, anyone?

[Greensleeves]

I have recently found my father's journal, which he started when he joined the RAF in 1936 and which he continued until his unit left Egypt in 1940.  However, he has written this in Esperanto.  I am able to translate quite a lot of it, but there are some pieces which I cannot make out, so I was wondering whether we have any Esperantists in our midst?  The journal is very long so I don't expect a complete translation, but there are parts when he is talking of engagements and the deaths of his comrades which I would really like to understand better. 

[sargie]

There's a translation facility on Google toolbar, although they may not have Esperanto, but it's worth a try.  If not, try googling it!

[Plummiegirl]

What a wonderful find.

I think there are still Esperanto societies around today, they appear on TV from time to time on the evening "magazine" programmes.

As said before google and see what you can find.

[Redroger]

What puzzles me, and perhaps the translation will give the answer is "Why should an Englishman (presumably) write a journal in a language other than his native tongue"?

[eadaoin]

perhaps he was learning Esperanto and ...

he wanted a bit of practice?

he wanted it to be private?

eadaoin

[Greensleeves]

I believe my father was learning Esperanto at the time.  He came from Yorkshire and met my mother when he was stationed in Suffolk, and attended a meeting of  Esperantists in Ipswich.  From then on, both before and after their marriage, my parents always wrote to each other in Esperanto rather than English and it was not unusual for them to converse thus if they didn't want us kids to know what they were talking about!!!  So in response to the suggestions posted by Eadaoin, it would appear the answers are Yes, Yes and Yes !

[Redroger]

Good idea Greensleeves, my wife and I used French for this purpose until our family started learning it themselves.

[Plummiegirl]

In the 1930/40's Eseperanto was very popular, it was a new language which was hoped would become the new International Language to be used worldwide.

As you can tell though this idea fell pretty much on its face.  But those who did take it up did so with great gusto, hence the societies which are still  around today.

[arty]

Just a little to add to the Esperanto topic !

It was taught at the school I went to which was a long time ago !  Actually I left school in 1949 so that'll tell you how old I am  !!!  I now live in Aus.but did all my schooling in Dagenham and our teacher of Esperanto was a Mr.Toms.  A great old man who would have left us years ago.  In those days they had an Esperanto Assoc. convention every year where people who could talk it or were interested came from all over the world for a week.  I managed to attent two conventions even though the money was a struggle for my folks.  Firstly went to Ipswich then just after the war it was held in Holland.  When I left school Mr.Toms got me a job at the British Esperanto Assoc office which which was then in Holland Pk Ave. W11. Stayed there 12 months but got itchy feet and eventually emigrated to NZ !!  Esperanto was very popular in those days as has been said.  While at school, in about 1946 or 1947 (my memory isn't what it was!), a film was made at the school about Esperanto and I actually spoke two lines in it !!!  The film was called "In Other Words".   Wonder if anyone else out there in Rootschat land learnt Esperanto at school because if they did, chances are we were at school at the same time because it was the  only school it was taught at at least in Dagenham.
Just thought I'd add my little bit of interest,
Cheers for now,
Arty