Return to Saussure

Introduction In the early 20th century, the Esperantist and mathematician René de Saussure proposed a groundbreaking idea—an international auxiliary currency named the "spesmilo." This proposal was intricately linked to reflections on the nature of Esperanto as an international auxiliary language. This article explores the motivations behind the creation of the spesmilo, the parallels drawn between universal currency and language, and the subsequent reflections on the stability of Esperanto, posited by the linguist Ferdinand de Saussure , who envisioned it evolving and changing akin to natural languages once it came into widespread use. The Spesmilo Proposal:  René de Saussure's proposition of the spesmilo stemmed from his observation of prices in Esperanto journals marked in various national currencies. This prompted the idea of a unified international monetary unit based on the metric system. Crucially, the intention was not to replace national currencies but ...

                                                                       The flag of Esperanto                                          Esperanto: A Constructed Language for Global Understanding " The first Esperantists loved Esperanto, not because it drew together men's brains, but because it drew together their hearts ." L. L. Zamenhof, Geneva Congress, 1906   Esperanto, a constructed international auxiliary language, emerged from the visionary mind of L. L. Zamenhof in the late 19th c...