I just wondered if there are any Esperanto speakers on this forum. It is something I am starting to learn, and wouldn’t mind a bit of practise. www.lernu.net is a great site for anybody interested in Esperanto and the Esperanto movement and is a site I am using to learn with. Just wondered if there were ant fellow speakers out there. Stefan

What is Esperanto? Is dit amper iets soos Afrikaans?

Esperanto was created in the late 19th century, and is a construced language meant to be used as a neutral 2nd language for all people. Its very interesting to learn and has approximately 2 million speakers worldwide. www.lernu.net is a very interesting site to learn with and is the site I’m using. Stefan

I would give up on that one. The International speaking language is still English and the International written language is French.

True enough Snuff Head but one can dream lol. Stefan

Stefan, I’m into international radio and short wave, long before internet radio. The Brits are to lazy to learn French so it seems we try to make English the written language also. just write a reception report in English to RFI (Radio France International) I bet you we get their reply in French.

Lol it wouldn’t surprise me with the French, they are still getting over Agincourt lol. Stefan

Now, lol, lol, say no more.

Again, just thinking about it. I’ve had many French Letters from them…

Heya Snuff Head. Got a licence a few months ago (KB3PZP) Haven’t tried it out yet though…

@ Xander congats on the ticket, It’s a very long time ago now that I was on air official. I think is was totally spoiled by ex CB’ers. Only my way of thinking.

Mainly its used for chatting with strangers, just like we do here. There of course is skill and challenge aspect of trying to get contacts fro farther and farther away. One game they like to play is to get a contact from every country, territory and state, ships at sea and even the space station. Many will send postcards to the people they contact which are collectable. There is also an electronics-nerd side for some who like to tinker and fiddle or even build their own radios. As far as utilitarian goes, my handheld is pretty easy to use and free (as compared to cellphone) if I have to tell my wife something, or am shopping and forgot the shopping list, stuff like that. Also they are used in emergency situations like hurricanes when phone lines and cell phone towers are down. There are clubs just dedicated to emergency use. Look here for a brief introduction. Follow the link on the page to the Amatuer Radio Relay League. More information than you ever wanted to know.

Just had a thought. We are an oddball bunch. Taking snuff, talking on ham radio and speaking Esperanto. Where else on earth can you find people with such odd hobbies?

When I used ham radio it was building your own your own transmitters, or converting ex military equipment. Then getting a kick when the thing works. Now you just buy a box and plug it into the mains, and in some cases a manufactured antenna. Very boring now.

Oh man,i was into CB like 10 years ago,cray after that. Never was a ham though,never did bother to go for a license.

Hey snuff head,i was an SWL for years and loved it,but like a lot of hobbies/interests with me they tend to go in cycles but still have all my stuff here just waiting for the time when i get the bug once more.My receiving call is BRS173787 and i was really into IOTA and CDXC,kept up my RSGB membership too. Main rx’ers here are the YAESU FRG-100 and the AOR 3000A. Best 73 Simon

As an American, the best language I should learn would be Spanish.

Ok mate no worries. Stefan

@tom: most definitely! I took French in school instead of Spanish, and now I work with tons of Spanish speaking people.

Where I live, Spanish speaking people actually tell me that I should learn Spanish if I want to live here. Most of them have been here for decades and never learned English! It’s a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I understand WAY more than I let on, a very interesting way to eavesdrop, right out in the open!

@Miami: It’s the same way up here. You don’t want to hear what I say to them when I get that line. @bigblue: Oh so true.

I actually learned a fair amount of French in school, not really because my teacher was the best, but because she let my buddy and I sit in the back of the class and converse away(in French, of course), for all four years of High school. Its a shame I didn’t use it more after HS–my ability to speak declined considerably. Unfortunately, Esparanto isn’t high on my list of languages to study, though the concept fascinates me.

LOL Maciej. Bela?!? Ok I’ll let you off with that one Stefan

Lol I’m amiko not amikino. I had to type amiko 4 times before my iPod recognised it and didn’t turn it to “amino” lololol. Awww bless ya! Ditto! Stefan