Fundamento de Esperanto

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Esperanto topics
This article is part of the Esperanto series
Language
Grammar · Phonology · Orthography · Vocabulary · Etymology
History
Zamenhof · Proto-Esperanto · Unua Libro · Declaration of Boulogne · Fundamento · Montevideo Resolution · Prague Manifesto
Culture and media
Esperantist · Esperantujo · Film · La Espero · Libraries · Literature · Music · Native speakers · Pop culture references · Publications · Symbols · Zamenhof Day
National Associations
Australia · Britain · British Youth · British Labour · Canada · Quebec · USA
Organizations and services
Amikeca Reto · Esperanto Academy · Kurso de Esperanto · Encyclopedia · Pasporta Servo · Plouézec Meetings · TEJO · UEA · SAT · World Congress · Youth Congress · Congress of the Americas · Skolta Esperanto Ligo
Criticism
Esperantido · Propedeutic value · Reformed · Riism · vs. Ido · vs. Interlingua · vs. Novial
Related topics
Auxiliary language · Constructed language · Ido · Interlingua · Novial · Volapük · Signuno · Anationalism
Wikimedia
Portal · Task force · Vikipedio · Vikivortaro · Vikicitaro · Vikifonto · Vikilibroj · Vikikomunejo · Vikispecoj

The Fundamento de Esperanto ("Foundation of Esperanto") is a book by L. L. Zamenhof, published in the spring of 1905. On August 9, 1905 it was made the official source for the language by the fourth article of the Declaration of Boulogne at the first World Congress of Esperanto in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. It is considered the only obligatory authority over Esperanto and is thus unchangeable.

The Fundamento consists of four parts: a Foreword (Antaŭparolo), a Grammar (Gramatiko), a collection of exercises (Ekzercaro) and a "Universal Dictionary" (Universala Vortaro). With the exception of the Foreword, almost everything in the Fundamento comes directly from Zamenhof's earlier works.

Equal to the Fundamento are the "Official Additions" (Oficialaj Aldonoj). To date, there have been nine Official Additions. The Foreword of the Fundamento states:

Nur iam poste, kiam la granda parto de la novaj vortoj estos jam tute matura, ia aŭtoritata institucio enkondukos ilin en la vortaron oficialan, kiel 'Aldonon al la Fundamento'.

Some time from now, when many of the new words have completely stabilized, some authoritative institution shall put them into an official dictionary, as 'Additions to the Fundamento'.

The grammar and dictionary sections of the Fundamento are in five national languages: French, English, German, Russian, and Polish.