The Esperantist! What is the signification of this word? Naturally it must be (1) One who learns and uses Esperanto; (2) This little Gazette printed in the same language.
And what is Esperanto? It is that which our good chief, Dr. Zamenhof, gave to the world after he had studied many European languages.
Therefore should we be justified in introducing our own "improvements" into the language? And could this Gazette rightly call itself The Esperantist if in it were printed any change not approved of by the author of the language? Certainly not.
On the fifty-ninth page, in the February Number, we saw some of the causes which prove that accents greatly hinder our progress; and it was also announced that Dr. Zamenhof approves of the use of the letter H instead of the accent.
This certainly is both ingenious and adequate, nevertheless it apparently does not please some of our English students. Entirely forgetting that when one is learning any language one must begin at the alphabet, they imagine that the Esperanto consonants must be in accordance with the English usage. Apparently our friends in other lands are not considered.
I believe that we in England will rightly approve of using GH, HH, JH, for their sounds are easily remembered. And I also believe that the Italians will not justly disapprove of CH and GH, although their sounds are quite different from the Italian usage.
As a few students continue writing about these accents, I send this letter to you to-day. And, as you are true Esperantists, you will carefully consider the subject, and will be so kind as to send me, by postcard, your opinions before April 10, 1904.
The majority of us in England (perhaps in the whole world) have ever cried out against the accents. "Away with them" is the cry of many a fervent helper. To settle this question, you, dear Esperantists, can choose between these two proposals:—
(1). Shall The Esperantist be printed without accented letters, but by CH, GH, HH, JH, SH?
(2). Shall it be printed with accents Ĉ, Ĝ, Ĥ, Ĵ, Ŝ as heretofore?