Newspaper Article 1975 – Creating a simple form of English

Creating a simple form of English

Moding (modified English) could help solve the world’s ills, according to 75-year-old retired teacher, Mr George Nelson, of Napier.

Mr Nelson has dabbled with his modified and simplified English over the past seven or eight years and now wants a “younger brain” to take up his cause.

He has prepared a manuscript outlining Moding covering basic elements of pronunciation, spelling and grammar.

Verbs, for example, have only one tense with the future being indicated by the simple addition of the word “futurely” and the past by the addition of the word “pastly”.

FORMS DISAPPEAR

Masculine and feminine forms disappear with the difference being indicated by the addition of she and he, for example, a woman doctor becomes a “she-dokter”.

Spelling is simplified so anomalies in traditional English are overcome. Hiccough becomes “hikup” in Moding.

Mr Nelson, who was born in Hastings, has only recently returned to live in Hawke’s Bay after a life of travel and a variety of jobs.

He speaks a little Spanish and has been interested in Esperanto for a number of years.

But, he says, Esperantists represent only a small number in each country and the Esperanto movement resents change or improvement of its international language.

Mr Nelson has developed a phonetic spelling for his language and hopes to have the whole concept of Moding discussed through classes and seminars at the Hawke’s Bay Community College.

He chose to modify English not only because it is his mother tongue but because today it is the basis for commerce, it is widely distributed throughout the world and would provide an ideal basis for communication at international level.

AS HOBBY

“I would like to meet someone who sees the importance of a new form of communication and who would be prepared to take it up as a hobby and develop it,” Mr Nelson said.

In the meantime Moding, which has a pidgin English quality about it, remains in manuscript form and the brainchild of its creator.