22 INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE 



the existing systems satisfied the conditions necessary for 

 an international auxiliary language, but that the widely 

 known Esperanto could serve as a basis for the working out 

 of such a language, although it would require to undergo 

 a certain number of changes. 



A standing committee was elected, including Ostwald, 

 Couturat, De Beaufront, and Jespersen, which was entrusted 

 with the task of determining the new forms of the inter- 

 national auxiliary language on the basis of the principles laid 

 down in the sittings mentioned above. 



The changes carried out by the committee of the Delegation 

 are embodied in the form of new grammars and dictionaries. 

 The Delegation succeeded not only in recognising, but also 

 in correcting in a competent manner, the errors of Esperanto, 

 with the result that we are to-day in possession of a language 

 which in respect of facility, lucidity, variety, and elegance 

 of expression, represents the high-water mark of international 

 speech. 



The success which this reform achieved amongst the public 

 and also in Esperantist circles immediately after the publica- 

 tion by the Delegation of the first specimen of the new 

 language was astonishing. That which the Esperantists had 

 scarcely succeeded in doing during six years of their existence 

 took place with astonishing rapidity before our eyes, and in 

 scarcely as many months there were formed in sixty towns 

 of Europe and America local groups of enthusiastic people 

 affiliated to the Delegation. 



Unfortunately the Fundarnentists persist in their obstinacy 

 and continue to manifest their discontent. Although the 

 new language has sprung from Esperanto and is based upon 

 it, the Esperantists have forbidden that the name Esperanto 

 should be used. The conventional name Ido (i.e., a 

 descendant) has therefore been given to it. There exist 

 already some periodicals in the linguo internaciona. The 

 chief organ of the new movement is the periodical 



