The Esperantic Studies Foundation works to understand and solve international language problems, including:
ESF adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigating the world linguistic situation, and to developing strategies for overcoming language problems. It seeks contacts and collaboration not only with applied linguists, but also with engineers, social scientists, humanists, politicians, and citizens. Details of ESF's previous and ongoing activities and interests are described in its newsletter Esperantic Studies and in various branches of its web site.
ESF's current research program is based on the concept of interlingualism, an integrative framework for the study and promotion of diversity, integration, equity and efficiency in the world language system. The Foundation welcomes funding proposals for research that would further our understanding of interlingualism or test its applicability to particular settings, for instance in an educational institution, international organization, or on-line community. Submission guidelines are provided under the Interlingual Research Grants program.
The scholars who founded ESF were moved to do so by their experience with Esperanto, the only planned international language to have become the vernacular and literary medium of a widespread speech community. ESF has supported a number of activities concerning the use of Esperanto in education, including the 1992 report Esperanto and Education: Toward a Research Agenda, and the annual full-credit Summer Esperanto Workshop at San Francisco State University. A range of materials in Esperanto studies and interlinguistics is available on its web site.
ESF is administered by a voluntary Board of Directors with input from a larger Advisory Board, enabling it to draw on a wide range of perspectives and expertise. The Foundation is incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, is recognized as a tax-exempt private foundation, and claims status as a private operating foundation (50%-limit organization). Besides its secretariat in Washington, D.C., it operates branch offices in Seattle, under the direction of its Vice-President, Dr. Jonathan Pool, and in Vancouver, Canada, under the direction of its Executive Director, Mark Fettes. At the Seattle site may also be found ESF's public disclosures such as the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and recent annual tax returns.
If you would like more information, see How to contact us.