Question

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English is an important international language, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn. Many experts have tried to make English easier to learn — but they weren’t always successful.

In 1930, Professor C.K. Ogden of Cambridge University invented Basic English. It had only 850 words (and just eighteen verbs) and Ogden said most people could learn it in just thirty hours. The problem was that people who learned Basic English could write and say simple messages, but they couldn’t understand the answers in ‘real’ English! It was also impossible to explain a word if it wasn’t in the Basic English word list.

R.E. Zachrisson, a university professor in Sweden, decided that the biggest problem for learners of English was spelling, so he invented a language with the name Anglic. Anglic was similar to English, but with much simpler spelling. ‘Father’ became ‘faadher’, ‘new’ became ‘nue’ and ‘years’ became ‘yeerz’. Unluckily, Anglic never became popular.

In the age of international communication through the Internet, who knows what will happen? ... a new form of English might appear. A large number of the world’s e-mails are in English and include (包括) examples of ‘NetLingo’ like OIC (Oh, I see) and TTYL (Talk to you later). In another fifty years, English might not be used. We might all speak fluent Internetish! 

1. Many experts have tried to make English easier to learn, haven’t they?

2. Who invented Basic English in 1930 ?

3. How long could most people learn Basic English according to Professor Ogden?

4.    What was the biggest problem for learners of English according to Professor Zachrisson?

5. What might happen to English in another fifty years?

6. What do you think of the experts’ ideas of making English easier?

Answer 1

1. Yes, they have.

2. Professor CK Ogden (of Cambridge University).

3. In just 30 hours.   

4. Spelling.

5. English might not be used. (We might all speak Internetish.)

6. (Any reasonable answers are acceptable.)