Several enquirers have written for information as to the method of
dividing the words in Esperanto. No rule seems to exist. The usual
custom is to divide them according to their pronunciation, and not
etymologically. Take the word _Krajonon_ for example. When split up
into syllables, this reads kra-jo-non, and is pronounced
krah-yoh-nohn.
* * *
F.G.R. of Nottingham is a most energetic supporter of our Cause, for,
in addition to lecturing on Esperanto, he has carefully studied the
vocabulary in the Text-book, comparing the two parts. As a result
of this examination he has found many items which are of general
interest. On page 133 _Rent_ is given as _Rento_, whereas on page 154
_Lui_ is given as meaning _to rent_. This is quite correct, for, in
the first instance, _rent_ is _income_, rent roll; in the latter
case, of course, it signifies _hire_. "One word, one meaning," is an
Esperanto maxim. The word _Makleristo_ also presented difficulty, as
the simple verb _Makleri_ is not given. It means _to do the business
of a broker_. Hence _Makleristo_ is _a broker_.
* * *
I must thank the many friends who have kindly written pointing out
Press errors in The Esperantist. While regretting that it is
impossible to eliminate these altogether, a monthly errata list of
the preceding Gazette is not necessary, unless the errors be of real
consequence. I must, however, in justice to the authors, call
attention to the following unaccountable slips in previous numbers.
On page 43 the saying of Napoleon was incorrectly given as
_Milcentjaroj vin rigardas_. It should, of course, have been
_Kvardek centjaroj_. Also Mr. Motteau calls attention to the
following errata in _La Ventego_. Page 21, Scene 2, line 4, should
read _Ĉiel' malbonodoran peĉon vomi_, and the last line but three
on page 40 should read _Privilegio ĉian li posedis_.
* * *
While referring to the correspondence on matters connected with
The Esperantist, friends are requested to always write to
the Editor direct, contributors being responsible for only those
items which bear their signatures. By so doing, friends will save
time and trouble to themselves and others who have no official
connection with the Gazette.
* * *
Dear Sir,--I was much interested to see, in the January
_Gazette_, a short article by Esperantisto 8105 on the Esperanto
rendering of the preposition "of," and I am sure that many of us
found the information therein very useful. The gifted author of our
language has told us that "_ĉiu prepozicio havas difinitan kaj
konstantan signifon_"; it is of the utmost importance, therefore,
that we should endeavour to find out what prepositions in our
national languages correspond with those he has selected. With this
object I hope from time to time, as the Editor may permit, to give
lists of sentences, illustrating curious usages, not only of
prepositions, but also of other words which offer difficulty to
English-speaking peoples.