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From: rwojcik@atc.boeing.com (Richard Wojcik)
Subject: Re: What is "BASIC" English?
Message-ID: <DCt4Ar.J4x@grace.rt.cs.boeing.com>
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Reply-To: rwojcik@atc.boeing.com
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References: <3vikh4$idv@news.xs4all.nl>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 1995 22:11:14 GMT
Lines: 49
Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.edu.languages.natural:567 sci.lang:41841 comp.ai.nat-lang:3696

In article <3vikh4$idv@news.xs4all.nl>, jang@xs4all.nl (Jan Grootenhuis) writes:
>martin@shambala.demon.co.uk (Martin Smith) writes:
>
>>About 10 years ago, I did a course in natural language processing, and
>>reference was made to something called "Basic English", which
>>comprised about 50 verbs and 100-200 nouns (I think the numbers were
>>of that sort of order).
>5}>Does anyone have any information on this topic, such as books, etc.?
>
>Don't you mean 'Simplified English', used for technical documentation in 
>airline industry?
>One version is PACE, Perkins Approved Clear English, having about 2500 
>words of which 250 verbs [Perkins Engines, Peterborough].
>
>Jan

He might be referring to AECMA Simplified English, but there are a number of
other controlled languages in use by industries.  All of them derive historically
from Caterpillar Fundamental English, which was inspired by the concept of
"Basic English".  AECMA is the association of aerospace manufacturers in Europe,
and they are getting ready to release a new version of SE.  The current version, 
known in the industry as "Change 5" was never intended to be a finished product,
so we have decided to call the new version "Issue 1".  Caterpillar itself does not
use CFE anymore.  There is a new standard called "Caterpillar Technical English",
which is treated as proprietary.

The AECMA standard is available, but it is not easy for those outside of the industry
to get a copy of the SE Guide.  In general, it is easier (and cheaper) to obtain if you
live outside of Europe.  Personally, I would like to make it available over the web,
but copyright technicalities prevent that.  Those in the Americas who wish to obtain
a copy should contact the Air Transport Association (ATA), which charges about $40
for a copy (if memory serves).  Look in the web for their homepage  at
http://air-transport.org/ata/home.htm.  If you have a strong need for a copy,
send me email.   I am a Boeing representative to the industry panel that is responsible
for the standard, and I would like to know of your interest.

-- 
+------------------------------------------------------+
|Richard H. Wojcik                       |Boeing Information & Support Services|
|Senior Principal Scientist         |     P.O. Box 24346, MS 7L-43                  |
|Natural Language Processing   |     Seattle, WA 98124-0346                   |
|========================|     Phone: (206) 865-3844                       |
|Opinions expressed above are   |     Fax:   (206) 865-2965                         |
|not those of The Boeing Company.|     Email: rwojcik@boeing.com          |
+------------------------------------------------------+




