1137. Leave Granted to be Instructed in Divers Tongues
"The Lord hath granted leave to whosoever desireth it that he be instructed in the divers tongues of the world that he may deliver the Message of the Cause of God throughout the East and throughout the West, that he make mention of Him amidst the kindreds and peoples of the world in such wise that hearts may revive and the mouldering bone be quickened."
- (Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, K 118, p. 62)
1138. The Utmost Importance of an Auxiliary Language
"Today the greatest need of the world of humanity is discontinuance of the existing misunderstandings among nations. This can be accomplished through the unity of language. Unless the unity of languages is realized, the Most Great Peace and the oneness of the human world cannot be effectively organized and established because the function of language is to portray the mysteries and secrets of human hearts. The heart is like a box, and language is the key. Only by using the key can we open the box and observe the gems it contains. Therefore, the question of an auxiliary international tongue has the utmost importance. Through this means international education and training become possible; the evidence and history of the past can be acquired. The spread of the known facts of the human world depends upon language. The explanation of divine teachings can only be through this medium. As long as diversity of tongues and lack of comprehension of other languages continue, these glorious aims cannot be realized. Therefore, the very first service to the world of man is to establish this auxiliary international means of communication. It will become the cause of the tranquility of the human commonwealth. Through it sciences and arts will be spread among the nations, and it will prove to be the means of the progress and development of all races."
- (‘Abdu'l-Bahá: The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Wilmette, 1982, pp. 60-61)
1139. Man's Speech is the Revealer of his Heart
"Profitless discussions fatigue and weary a person…
"Man's speech is the revealer of his heart. In whatever world the heart travels, man's conversation will revolve around that center. From his words you can understand in what world he is traveling, whether he is looking upward toward the realm of light or downward to the nether world, whether he is mindful or unaware, whether he is awake or asleep, whether he is alive or dead. For this reason His Holiness 'Alí says: 'Man is hidden behind his tongue. Out of the abundance of his heart does man speak.'"
1140. Esperanto
"Regarding the subject of Esperanto: It should be made clear to the believers that while the teaching of that language has been repeatedly encouraged by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, there is no reference either from Him or from Bahá’u’lláh that can make us believe that it will necessarily develop into the international auxiliary language of the future. Bahá’u’lláh has specified in His writings that such a language will have either to be chosen from one of the existing languages, or an entirely new one should be created to serve as a medium of exchange between nations and peoples of the world. Pending this final choice, the Bahá’ís are advised to study Esperanto only in consideration of the fact that the learning of this language can considerably facilitate inter-communication between individuals, groups and Assemblies throughout the Bahá’í world in the present stage of the evolution of the Faith."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, June 4, 1937: Bahá’í News, No. 109, July 1937, p. 1)
1141. The Present Need of An Auxiliary Language
"What Bahá’u’lláh is referring to in the Eighth Leaf of the Exalted Paradise is a far distant time, when the world is really one country, and one language would be a sensible possibility. It does not contradict His instructions as to the need immediately for an auxiliary language."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 16, 1946)
1142. Esperanto Will Spread to a Certain Degree
"Thou has written regarding the language of Esperanto. This language will be spread and universalized to a certain degree, but later on a language more complete than this, or the same language will undergo some changes and alterations and will be adopted and become universal…."
- (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 692)
1143. The Persian Tongue
"Acquire the Persian tongue, so as to learn of the meanings of the divine words and to know the divine mysteries, to develop an eloquent speech and to translate the blessed Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh. The Persian language shall become noteworthy in this cycle; nay, rather, the people shall study it in all the world."
- (Ibid., Vol. II, p. 306)
