2. Pronouns and Numerals (местоимения и числительные 33) 9

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Предисловие

English preface

Here is a micro-introduction to Lancelot Hogben's artificial language (or "controlled language") Essential World English. This is the text of an e-mail message I received in early August, 1995. Unfortunately I have lost the sender's name and e-mail address, so I cannot give him proper credit. - Rick Harrison You will be delighted in Lancelot Hogben's Essential World English (EWE), and ought to have your own copy.

Hogben's purpose is given in the first chapter:

One cannot speak too highly of Ogden's intention. He stated clearly and courageously, as no one before, a neglected task of language teaching and of language planning. To this end, he offered a recipe seemingly plausible to some of us. If his own solution of the problem he tackled was unsatisfactory for reasons indicated below, Ogden assuredly blazed a trail for others to follow. This book is not necessary because it can offer a solution that is final. It is timely, because it follows a new trail inspired by Ogden's failure. With due recognition of his unique achievement, it is therefore important to say charitably at the outset why Basis was bogus.

As said, a highly educated person may require a vocabulary of at least 30000 items for extensive reading. That one can say - technical jargon apart - everything one needs to say with 850 words in the English of the Authorised Version or of Winston Churchill at his best is therefore at first sight an impressive achievement. On more mature reflection, several considerations prompt 2^nd thoughts, in particular:

the Basic vocabulary contains many items which have very different meanings, and by the same token, are translatable by many different words in any other language;

to accomplish the ostensible end in view, Basic usage, though admittedly by no means alien to the eye or ear of anyone with a keen appreciation of native English, relies extensively on use of idioms invoking particles which have no semantic sanction in their own right;

the learner who starts with no native knowledge of English idiom is therefore at sea, and liable to form not easily broken habits of unacceptable usage.

The new start which this book advocates is that neither of the first-named preceding devices to reduce the mnemonic load of learning achieves the end in view. This follows if the reader is willing to concede two assertions:

it is by no means manifestly easier to learn several unrelated different meanings of the same word than to learn the same number of different words, each with a clear-cut semantic reference;

replacement of otherwise essential words not deemed to be so by wholly arbitrary combinations (e.g. put up with for tolerate or forbear) accomplishes no reduction of mnemonic load for the beginner.

In place of Ogden's 850-word list, we here offer a 1300-item list of what we call Essential Semantic Units, meaning thereby a semantically unique word and a instruction where necessary with respect to its usage, in particular:

what arbitrary particles may accompany it (cf. laugh at P, contrast X with Y, the same A ... as B);

if a so-called transitive verb, whether to do is interchangeable with doing or for doing as its object (cf. different usage with cease and finish). (Though one can say acceptably cease to work or cease working, one cannot acceptably say finish to work.

With the exception of less than half a dozen elements of the grammatical matrix (with, to, that, have, be), each listed semantic unit has an unequivocal reference.

The List of Essential Semantic Units (LESU) is given in 26 lessons of 50 words each, followed by two lessons of supplementary words. There are glossaries of EWE equivalents for Standard English terms not included in the LESU. More words can be made from these by the following rules: un-V (e.g. unable), in- (e.g. inactive), un-V-ed (e.g. unaccustomed), -er (e.g. attacker), un-V-able (e.g. unanswearable), in-V-able (e.g. incomparable), -less (e.g. aimless), (un-)V-ing (e.g. according). EWE ought to be compared with Basic English, the Voice of America special word list, and Universal Language Dictionary elements. Here is my synopsis of LESU. You need the book to understand completely.

Выделение цветом и др.

Красный – нетвердо знал, забыл или не знал значение

Синий – сомневаюсь в правильном размещении слова

Зеленый – у слова в разделе нет или не найден дубликат

Коричневый – слово избыточно, имеется синоним или можно описать другими словами

“*” после слова – из Supplementary List (L, дополнительный список - 99).

1. Verbal Auxiliaries (X, вспомогательные глаголы - 7)

Элементарные глаголы [быть]

be - быть
do - делать
have - иметь

Глаголы вероятности [мочь]

can-could - мочь
ought (to inf.) – должен (бы), следовало бы, хорошо бы; долг, обязанности
will – буду, желаю
would – был бы

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