Basic English

English-based controlled language

BASIC English (British Academic Scientific International Commercial)[1] is a controlled language used to explain complex thoughts. It has 850 words chosen by Charles Kay Ogden. Some articles in the Simple English Wikipedia (this website) use only BASIC English.

BASIC English
Created byCharles Kay Ogden
Date1925
Setting and usagecontrolled natural language
Purpose
Latin
SourcesModern English
Language codes
ISO 639-3
IETFen-basiceng

In 1937, Ogden hired Otto Neurath and Marie Neurath to make International Picture Language as one of a group of eight books in BASIC English.[2]

Rules of word use

The word use of BASIC English is simpler and more regular than the word use of normal English. In normal English, words often have a number of different meanings. To make BASIC English easier, not all the meanings of a word are used.

BASIC English uses Ogden's rules of grammar. Ogden's rules of grammar let people use the 850 words to talk about things and events simply.[3]

  1. -s / -es / -ies change singular nouns into plural nouns.
  2. -ing / -ed change verbs into adjectives.
  3. -ing / -er change verbs into nouns.
  4. -ly changes adjectives into adverbs.
  5. -er / -est or more / most describe amounts.
  6. un- changes adjectives into their opposites.
  7. The opposite word order with do makes questions.
  8. 'Operators' (verbs) and pronouns change as in normal English.
  9. Make combined words (compounds) from two nouns ("football") or a noun and a direction ("sundown").
  10. Measures, numbers, money, days, months, years, clock time, and international words are in English forms. Example for Date/Time: 20 May 1972 at 21:00
  11. Use the words of an industry or science. For example, in this grammar, some special words are for teaching languages, and not part of BASIC English: plural, conjugation, noun, adjective, adverb, qualifier, operator, pronoun, and directive.

Related pages

References

Other websites