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语言朋友(20) English is an important global language, but that doesn't mean it's easy to learn.Many experts have tried to make English easier for students to learn－but they weren't always successful. In 1930, Professor CK 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.For example, if you wanted a watermelon, you asked for “a large green fruit with the form of an egg, which has a sweet red inside and a good taste”！ RE Zachrisson, a university professor in Sweden, decided that the biggest problem for learners of English was spelling, so he invented a language called Anglic.Anglic was similar to English, but with much simpler spelling.“Father” became “faadher”， “new” became “nue” and “years” became “yeerz”．Unfortunately for some students of English, Anglic never became popular. Even easier is the language which ships'captains use; it's called “Seaspeak”．Seaspeak uses a few simple phrases for every possible situation.In Seaspeak, for example you don't say, “I'm sorry what did you say？” or “I didn't understand, can you repeat that？” ...it's just, “Say again.” No more grammar! | 
