Antedating of "World English"

[Fred Shapiro]

world English (OED 1927)

1888 Alexander Melville Bell in _Science_ Jan. 40 (JSTOR)  But English is
undoubtedly susceptible of modifying simplifications which would easily
and perfectly fit it for international use.  Let a committee be appointed,
consisting of one British and one American member, to investigate the
subject, and suggest such changes as would remove anomalies, and I feel
convinced that they would readily create a new and simple tongue in the
form of what may be called 'world English.'

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Collections and     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
   Access and Lecturer in Legal Research     Yale University Press,
Yale Law School                             forthcoming
e-mail: fred.shapiro at yale.edu               http://quotationdictionary.com
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