The moral of the above statement applies equally to that over-all peace organization for which the world is praying. One of the chief problems of that organization is the subject of the following extract from an article in The Reader's Digest.
Original . Nothing makes more worldwide woe than the poisonous pride of race.39 It is the true taproot of the beastliness of Nazism40 and Nipponism.40 and it defies even democratic political institutions. In our own United States, where every political windbag41 talks himself into office by screaming about democracy,42 we have to give first place as a troublemaker to what whites call "the Negro problem." Negroes could with equal accuracy call it "the white problem." |
Basic . There is no greater power for undermining peace on earth than the poisoning belief that one nation, color or religion39 is better than another. In it are the roots of the worst outgrowths of Nazism40 and Nipponism40 and even in political systems based on the theory that all men are equal it is hard to keep it down. In these United States where every political windbag41 gets into office by loud cries about equal rights,42 we have to give first place as a troublemaker to what the whites say is "the Negro question." From the Negro point of view it might equally well be named "the white question." |
39 . Basic loses the snap of this but gains by being led to take the ideas behind race apart.
40 . Nazism and Nipponism rank now, alas, as internally known labels.
41 . Political windbag . This. might be hard for a foreign student but the content Is strong and the thing itself not
42 . Democracy, since the war, may be counted an international word. The translator was playing safe in avoiding it.
43 . Union . A technical term defined earlier In the translation as "an organization of the workers whose purpose is to take care of their interests." etc.
44 .The translator has left out the fight without perhaps much weakening the statement.
45 . Board, though a Basic word, is not used in its sense of a committee in Basic. Compare on board; see note 30 preceding. The definition that follows explains what an executive board is.
46 . A walk-out, given the strong context, Is perhaps not too colloquiaL
47 . Program . International word.
48 . Wise and quiet sense of values. Maybe "power of waiting on events" would add a missing part to the meaning of "patient 'wisdom.'" The quotation marks show that the author of the article did not find it easy to say just what is meant.
Original . Elizabeth and I beard the sound of hammering before we saw the house. Carpenters were busy on the roof, which shone with the raw gold color of new lumber above the foaming pink-and-white of a neglected orchard in prodigal bloom. A man and a woman were sitting on a pile of boards beneath an apple tree. When our car turned in, the woman came to meet us, tall and gaunt in tweed skirt and sweater. |
Basic . The sound of hammering came to Elizabeth and me before we saw the house. Then the roof came in view, with men at work on its new yellow wood which was bright against the mass of light red and white flowers on the bent old fruit trees in front of it. A man and woman were seated on some boards under one of the apple trees. When our automobile made the turn, the woman got to her feet and came forward, tall and thin in a wool skirt and pullover. |
49 . Recent developments in the use of Basic for the blind are worth mentioning here. Perkins Institution for the Blind in Watertown is beginning to print key Basic texts in Braille, and also to experiment with the limited vocabulary in various sorts of teaching situations.
Scenes from Arms and the Man lend themselves well to classroom work for foreign learners of English. It is interesting therefore to note how often Shaw's text is in or almost in Basic.
Original. RAINA (getting angrier ) : Do you realize what he has done, Captain Bluntschli? He has set this girl as a spy on us; and her reward is that he makes love to her. SERGIUS : False! Monstrous! RAINA : Monstrous! (confronting him ) Do you deny that she told you about Captain Bluntschli being in my room? SERGIUS : No; but-- RAINA (interrupting ) : Do you deny that you were making love to her when she told you? SERGIUS : No; but I tell you-- RAINA (cutting him short contemptuously ) : It is unnecessary to tell us anything more. That is quite enough for us. (She turns her back on him and sweeps majestically back to the window.) BLUNTSCHLI (quietly, as Sergius, in an agony of mortification, sinks on the ottoman, clutching his averted head between his fists ) : I told you you were getting the worst of it, Saranoff. SERGIUS : Tiger cat! RAINA (running excitedly to Bluntschli ) : You hear this man calling me names, Captain Bluntschli? BLUNTSCHLI : What else can be do, dear lady? He must defend himself somehow. Come (very persuasively ), don't quarrel. What good does it do? -- Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man. |
Basic. |
50 . Sailing . A neat solution of what might look like a hard one.
Original . |
Basic . |
51 . Prose : the learner of beginning English through Basic is in Monsieur Jourdain's position and has been using prose all the time without being conscious that this is its (English) name. His new word needs no further definition than the whole passage supplies.
52 . The title departs from Basic. Would is not volitional in strict Basic nor is gentleman a Basic or an international word. A Basic gloss is needed to say that "an uneducated townsman is hoping to get a footing in high society."
Original . A grave white haired seneschal came to their table, and inquired courteously whether Gerard Eliassoen was of their company. Upon Gerard's answer, he said : |
Basic . Suddenly a voice came to them, and they saw a man, serious-faced, white-haired. He had come to see if a young man named Gerard Eliassoen was of their company. At Gerard's answer, he said : |
54 .A crossbow is a very hard thing to describe clearly (without pictures) even in full English. The translator has probably been wise in omitting this point as not essential to the action, which hardly brooks delay at such a point.
54 . Cupboard . See note on difficult Basic compounds, p. 17.
55 . Hiccup is an "onomatopoeic" word, indicating here the sort of sound made, not necessarily having anything to do with the man's diaphragm.
Original . "One, two, tree, four, fibe -- I done pass fibe big limb, massa,56 'pon dis side." |
Basic . "One, two, three, four, five -- I've gone past five thick branches, Master56 Will, this side." |
56 . Master is a title recognizable here through its capitalization as a variant of Mister.
57 . Out of his mind might be clearer to beginners in English than off his head.
58 . The nearest the Basic comes to suggesting the flavor of Jupiter's way of talking. The aim of the Basic version is first of all to be clear for a beginner in the language.
Original . But, however scantily the Baron von Landshort might be provided wish children, his household was by no means a small one; for Providence had enriched him with an abundance of poor relations. They, one and all, possessed the affectionate disposition common to humble relatives; were wonderfully attached to the baron, and took every possible occasion to come in swarms and enliven the castle. All family festivals were commemorated by these good people at the baron's expense; and when they were filled with good cheer, they would declare that there was nothing on earth so delightful as these family meetings, these jubilees of the heart. |
Basic . But though the baron had only one daughter, his family was not a small one, because chance had given him a great number of poor relations. Their natural impulses were Loving, as is common with poor relations, and having a great love for the baron, they took, every possible chance to come in great numbers, and to make the house bright and happy. These good persons kept all the birthdays and other family events, with the help of the baron's money; and when they were full of good food, they would say that nothing on earth gave them so much pleasure as these family meetings, when all their happy hearts were united. |
Original . There had been few changes in the village; for it was not one of those thriving places where, a year's prosperity makes more than the havoc of a century's decay; but like a grey hair in a young man's head, an antiquated59 little town, full of old maids and aged elms and moss-grown dwellings. Few seemed to be the changes here..,. Yet, summing up all the mischief that ten years had wrought, it seemed scarcely more than if Ralph Cranfield had gone forth that very morning, and dreamed a day-dream till the twilight, and then turned back again. But his heart grew cold, because the village did not remember him as he remembered the village. "Here is the change!" sighed he, striking his hand upon his heart. "Who is this man of thought and care, weary with world-wandering, and heavy with disappointed hopes? The youth returns not, who went forth so joyously!" |
Basic . Little was changed in the town: it was not one of those places where a year's good business makes more mark than a hundred years of slow wasting away; but a quiet59 little town, full of old unmarried women, and old twisted trees, and old roofs touched with green. Putting together all the changes tea years had made, it seemed little more than if Ralph Cranfield had gone away that same morning, had been sleeping till night-fall, and was now turning back again. But his heart was cold; because the town seemed to have kept no memory of him as he had of the town. |
59 . Quiet translates only part of what is conveyed in antiquated. This may partly explain why, though "like a gray hair in a young man's head" is good Basic, the translator does not use the comparison.
Original . The Committee of Ministers on Basic English, after hearing a considerable volume of evidence, have submitted a Report which has been approved in principle by His Majesty's Government. The Committee, in their reports distinguish between the use of a system such 'as Basic English as an auxiliary international language, and as a method for the teaching of ordinary English. In this latter field, several very promising methods, other than Basic, have been developed in recent years, which make use of progressively increasing vocabularies based on analysis of tile words most frequeut1y used in conversational and literary English. In foreign countries, the method used in the teaching of English will naturally be a matter for the decision of the Departments of Education of those countries, and, where teaching is conducted in British Institutes, it will be a matter for the free decision of those who direct the teaching of English whether they employ any of these methods or the Basic method. There is no reason why His Majesty's Government should support one method rather than another. So far, however, as concerns the use of Basic English as an auxiliary international language, His Majesty's Government are impressed with the great advantages which would ensue from its development not in substitution for established literary languages, but as a supplement thereto. The usefulness of such an auxiliary language will, of course, be greatly increased by its progressive diffusion. |
Basic . The Committee of Ministers on Basic English, after hearing the views of a great number of experts, have made a statement on the question which has been given general approval by His Majesty's Government. It is pointed out by the committee in their statement that the use of a system such as Basic English as an international second language is something quite separate from its use for the teaching of normal English. In this second field, two or three other systems which give signs of working very well have been produced in the last five or ten years. These make use of selections of words, increasing by stages, which are based on observation of the words most frequently used in talking and writing English. In other countries, the system used in the teaching of English will naturally be a question for the decision of the Education Offices in those countries, and where teaching is given in British Institutes, those in control of the teaching of English will be free to make use of any of these systems or of the Basic system. There is no reason for His Majesty's Government to give more support to one system than to another. |