Since Esperanto has no native land of its own, sometimes it can be malfacila to find others who speak Esperanto. It is not something you would expect to find concentrated in any particular area. In Spain or Mexico, it’s a safe bet to assume that most people you encounter will speak Spanish; in France, it’s expected that people speak French. Esperanto, on the other hand, does not belong to any place in particular, so finding a speaking population in your own country can be challenging. But do not lose hope! A survey conducted by Professor Sidney S. Culbert in 1989 estimated that between 1 and 2 million people worldwide speak Esperanto proficiently.

(mal- = opposite; facila = simple, easy. Malfacila = difficult)

Kie ni povus trovi Esperantistojn? In Usono, my home country, various Esperanto groups are scattered all across the land. The northeastern US is home to a comparatively dense population of Esperantists who volunteer through “Pasaporta Servo,” a service that allows Esperanto speakers across all continents to connect with and visit one another. While Euxropo currently houses the highest concentration of Esperantists, North American and Usono are both slowly increasing their number of Esperantists.

(ki- = correlative prefix: what; -e = as correlative ending: place; kie = where. povi = to be able. trovi = to find.)

It is possible that Usono might see a surge in Esperanto speakers soon. A movement on change.org proposes introducing Esperanto as a foreign language subject in schools. It would be quite beneficial if this measure were to be adopted! Who knows – perhaps it will.