The learnability of the reflexive in Esperanto

Abstract

Esperanto is a planned language for international use. Much of its grammar is easily learnable by speakers with all sorts of linguistic background. The adjectival reflexive possessive is one of the elements in the grammar which is experienced by many learners as a serious difficulty. It is also one of the topics that has caused many debates among scholars and language users in general, who, despite 125 years of intensive linguistic development, have not managed to come up with a universally understandable and workable set of rules and guidelines for practical implementation. Eliminating the obligatory use of the dedicated reflexive possessive pronoun is expected to improve the learnability of the language in this respect and would not compromise the clarity of speaker’s intentions thanks to the support provided by contextual, pragmatic and semantic considerations. A tolerant attitude toward speakers and writers who avoid the use of the reflexive possessive in controversial constructions and apply non-reflexive possessives instead would be a step in the right direction.