[Note: a more complete version of this FAQ is posted as separate file
 once a month on rec.Scouting and may be retrieved through anonymous FTP
 from ftp.ethz.ch:/rec.Scouting/faq ]

What is Esperanto?

Esperanto is the easy-to-learn language devised by Dr. L.L. Zamenhof, of
Warsaw, Poland, at the end of the 19th Century. Zamenhof saw the need
for the peoples of the world to be able to transcend the barriers of
language.  Esperanto is used as a second language for communication
between language communities.

Is Esperanto supposed to replace the national languages?

No.  It is a neutral bridge-language between people of different
language communities.

What is the connection between Scouting and Esperanto?

In his book, "Scouting for Boys," Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Scouting's
Founder, recommends the use of Esperanto as a "secret language" among
Scouts.  The first steps to create the Skolta Esperanto-Ligo (Scout
Esperanto League) took place in 1918, after the appearance of Alexander
William Thompson's booklet proposing such an organization.  Since then,
SEL has held its own international camp-outs, and participated in World
Scout Jamborees. For the World Jamboree in August in the Netherlands, an
international group of SEL  activists is organizing an activity in which
participants will learn the basics of  Esperanto using a space-age
learning tool, "Esperanto-Elektro."

Why is Esperanto called a "neutral" language?

It is neutral in the sense that it has no political, cultural or
national/ethnic "baggage" that it carries with it. This cannot be said
for the various national languages, each of which carries with it its
won particular agenda, be it political, cultural, religious, commercial
or otherwise. The only agenda Esperanto has is to serve as a
bridge-language between all peoples.

Who can give me information about Skolta Esperanto-Ligo?

La Skolta Mondo, the official publication of SEL, appears four times a
year. The editor of La Skolta Mondo (Scout World) is Anna Margareta
Ritamaki.  Her e-mail address is:   A.RITAMAKI@sheffield.ac.uk until
June. As of June 1st, her e-mail address will be: aritamaki@finabo.abo.fi
By prior agreement with her, telefaxing is available.

The General Secretary of SEL is Hector Campos Grez.  His snail-mail
address: Casilla 331, Curico, Region 7, Chile. Fax: +55-75-312137.

How can I learn Esperanto?

Get the SEL textbook "Jamborea Lingvo," by J.L. Hammer, illustrated by
the noted Netherlands graphic artist Melle Hammer. It is available from:
SEL, Postbus 433, NL-1500 EK Zaandam, the Netherlands. Cost: 6 Netherland
Guilders + postage/handling This book is also available through many
Esperanto book services, such as that of Esperanto League for North
America (elna@netcom.com). In many countries, SEL runs special courses
just for Scouts. Or, get an Esperanto textbook at a public library or
bookstore. Find out if an Esperanto course is being offered in your
area. Take the Free Esperanto Course that is available by e-mail. The
Administrator of the FEC is Marko Rauhamaa. He can be contacted at:
Marko.Rauhamaa@tekelec.com The same course is available by snail-mail,
from several national Esperanto associations. A wealth of information
about Esperanto is available at the follo>

Transfer interrupted!

 Pagxoj (Esperanto Yellow Pages/in Esperanto)
ftp://ftp.cs.chalmers.se/pu/users/martinw./fla-pa/flavaj pagxoj.html

Yellow Pages (Esperanto Yellow Pages/in English)
ftp.netcom.com/pub/el/elna/Yellow Pages

What does Esperanto look like?

Esperanto estas neutrala ponto-lingvo. D-ro Zamenhof kreis Esperanton
por helpi al internacia, intergenta komunikado. Bela, facila, Esperanto
estas la racia solvo al la monda lingvo-problemo.

Scouting Terms..........Skoltisma Terminaro
Scout                   Skolto
Girl Guide/Scout        Skoltino
Cub Scout               Lupido
Scout Leader            Skoltestro
Camp                    Tendaro
Be Prepared!            Estu Preta!
Thinking Day            Interpensa Tago

[Thanks to Anna Margareta Ritamaki, Editor of La Skolta Mondo, who
provided much of the material upon this FAQ is based.]