THE ABC OF BASIC ENGLISH
(in Basic)
BY
C K. OGDEN
Writer of "Basic English"
with "An Account of the Sounds of Basic English" by A. LLOYD JAMES
Professor of Phonetics in the University of London
Linguistic Adviser to the B.B.C.

KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH TRUBNER & Co. Ltd
Broadway House, Carter Lane, E. C.

DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK

The ABC is published in "ABC of Basic English", is also in "System of Basic English", and in "International Second Language".
The text is generally that of the most recent, "ISL" version.

		Page	SBE	ISL
On Learning the Basic Words		vii	37	119
	THE FIRST STEP	1	40	122
	1 . THINGS	3	41	122
	(a) Names of Picturable Things	4	41	123
	(b) General Names	6
	(c) Forms for Number	10
	(d). a and the	12
	2. QUALITIES	14
	(a) Opposites	16
	(b) Is and Are	18
	(c) And and Or	18
A . I .	SIMPLE STATEMENTS	20	51	131
	1. OPERATIONS	20
	(a) The names of simple acts	21
	(b) Be, Have, Will, May	25
	(c) Do (Not)	29
	2 . DIRECTIONS	31
	(a) The Names of Directions	34
	(b) How to make 'verbs'	36
	3 . How, When, and Where	40
	4 . I, He, You; This, That	43
	5 . Cries !	46
A . II .	WORD ORDER	49	65	153
	1 . Statements	50
	2 . Complex Words	54
	3 . Joining Words	58
	4 . Who and Which	63
	5 . How, When, Where, and Why	66
	6 . Questions	69
B . I .	OTHER WORD-FORMS	71	79	168
	1 . Operator Forms (with `Pronouns')	73
	2. Comparison	78
	3 . Endings in -er, -ing, -ed	82
B . II .	EXPANSIONS and Special Senses	90	88	183
	1 . Names of Things and Qualities	90
	2 . Words for Operations	100
	3 . Names of Directions	116
C .	SPECIAL USES	133	114	212
	1 .The 250 Fixed Word-Groups	133	114	212
	2 . A Basic Selection	146	124	223
	I . Some Common Needs	146	124	223
	(a) Simple Acts	146	124	223
	(b) Complex Acts	151	126	225
	(c) Other Suggestions	156	128	228
	II . Words Formed by Endings	160	131	230
	III . The Most Necessary Fixed Word-Groups	162	114	231
	THE LAST STEP	163	133	233
	1 . Points to Keep in Mind	163	133	233
	2 . International Words	168	133	234
	3 . Science	171	135	236
MAY in Pictures		172
THE SOUNDS OF BASIC ENGLISH		176
THE BASIC WORD WHEEL		183
KEY to the WORDS		187
	Back to : Texts		SBE	ISL	Step notes	Next>

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' MAY ' IN PICTURES

    We have said that it is important to be clear when two uses of a word have no connection, and when they are simply two forms of a wider use. There are white men, black men, yellow men, and brown men ; but we do not say that the word man has four different uses, with no general sense running through them all. The general sense is ' It is possible ___' ; and it may be possible in two ways.

    In the first, general conditions make it possible (as far as our knowledge goes) -- by putting nothing in the way.¹
    In the second, the person talking makes it possible -- by giving the chance or authority.²

    Naturally, if we say that an event may take place (is possible), it is not, in our opinion, so certain to do so as if we had said will. So may generally has that sense of 'it is possible that ___ or that ___ not ___,' and ' may not' has, in fact, generally the same sense as 'may,' and which of the two we say is dependent on our point of view.³ If we say, "There may be rain later" we probably take an umbrella. But if we say, "There may not be rain," we probably go without an umbrella.
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1 . When a person says he may go, he frequently has in mind only his other desires (as putting nothing in the way of going), and not things in general. If he says "I may be sailing to America tomorrow," and someone give him a newspaper which makes it clear that there is no boat for three days -- then his may becomes automatically will not (p. 29).
2 . When 'may' has this sense of 'let,' putting 'not' after it gives it the sense of 'do not let.' If the girl has said "Rat, you may not go," the sense would have been "Rat, I do not let you go."
3 . All degrees of doubt, from having no doubt at all that something is possible to feeling that something is not quite impossible, are covered by may. We are quite certain that "an egg may be cooked in boiling water," so there is no room at all for a 'may not' in such a connection. If, on the other hand we say "He may get better," when everyone at the hospital has given up hope, the 'may not' is clearly more probably. The greater the doubt the more force is put on the word may.
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[ Picture 1. ] The dog may go into the room with an open door or he may not.
[ Picture 2. ] The nurse says "You may go in now."
[ Picture 3. ] The green light says the automobile may go forward.
[ Picture 4. ] You may take a free sample.
 

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THE SOUNDS OF BASIC ENGLISH
by Professor A. Lloyd James

    If you are going to make ourself clear in Basic English, then you will have to say your words as far as possible in the way in which they are generally said by those to whom English is a natural language. The learning of a the sounds of a new language is generally have because we have to get used to hundreds of new tricks.     . . .     to make use of a language in a right and natural way.
    There are three sorts of tricks :--
(a)   making the Sounds ;
(b)   making the Rhythm ;
(c)   making the Music.
    So as to make the sounds of English you have to get the idea of using your tongue, lips, nose, teeth -- all the talking apparatus -- in new ways. The Rhythm of English is, in a great measure, mixed up with the Sounds ; every language has a Rhythm -- a sort of rum-tum-tum about it ; the English Rhythm is one to which the learner has to give special attention. Get it form the Basic records ; that is much the best way. Or from the Internet. or from BBC radio World Service or from VOA Special English. It is not possible to give an idea of Rhythm on paper anything like so well as by talking about it, and it has to be experienced as sound, before you are able to get it fixed in your memory. So put on your record over and over again, and let the learning of a Basic word and the learning of its Rhythm go together every time. Take note that words like
addition , agreement , adjustment
have the same rhythm, and that this rhythm is different from that of
argument , government , instrument.
    . . . (more ) 5 pages . . .
    One last word on the Sounds of Basic English. If it is going to be the common language of millions from all countries, it will have to be used in such a way that
(a)   the sense of what you say will be clear to all whose natural language is English;
(b)   any two talkers from countries widely separate on the map will be clear to one another.
    This is to say that there will have to be agreement about the normal sounds of our language -- the same for us all. Though we may not all be able to get to the same level, we are, at any rate, all able to make the attempt, and so be certain that we are working in the same direction. The sounds which are given on the Basic English records will give you an idea of the line on which agreement is to be desired. The are about the same as those fixed by the authorities of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and they will be clear wherever the English language is used.