Esperanto
"La Espero" (The Hope)

Words by: Ludovic Lazar Zamenhof
Music by: Félicien de Ménil
Adopted: unknown

Probably the only language in the world with its own flag and anthem, the word "Esperanto" translates as "hope" or "hoping one" and also provides the title of the anthem of the language. The anthem speaks of the goal of the language, to bind the nations together with a common language in peace.

The words were among the first Esperanto poetry, written by Dr. Zamenhof, the inventor of the Esperanto language, and the melody was especially written by French composer Félicien de Ménil. It is played at the opening of congresses. (An interesting coincidence is that this anthem has the same title as that of the anthem of Israel, perhaps explained by the fact that Dr. Zamenhof was Jewish.)

Special thanks to: Michel Pilger for some of this information.