ベーシック英語

英語はある意味で日本語によく似ています。ヨーロッパの西の小さな島国の言葉で、一時期使っている人数が数十万人だったこともある言語が今や国際共通語として使われるようになった背景にはその柔軟性と外来語をも受容する寛容性にあると思います。

綺麗な英語を話すには大変な努力が必要ですが、旅人が行く先々で買い物をするくらいであれば簡単な単語を並べるだけでも意思の疎通が図れます。

1930年ころCharles Kay Ogdenという学者が「基本的な英語というものは850の単語を覚えさえすれば習得できる」という説を立てました。無論この方法ですと無味乾燥な、事実や意思だけを伝えるものとなってしまいますが。

このオグデンが例として取り上げたのは、英語圏で格調高い演説の一つとして知られるリンカーンのゲティスバーグ・アドレスです。

まずリンカーンの演説を掲げますので出来れば声に出して読んでみてください。

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

最後の二行に有名な「人民の、人民による、人民のための政治」が出てきます。

さてこれをベーシック英語にしてみるとこうなります。

Seven and eighty years have gone by from the day when our fathers gave to this land a new nation—a nation which came to birth in the thought that all men are free, a nation given up to the idea that all men are equal. Now we are fighting in a great war among ourselves, testing if that nation, or any nation of such a birth and with such a history, is able long to keep united. We are together on the field of a great event in that war. We have come to give a part of that field as a last resting-place for those who went to their death so that that nation might go on living. It is in every way right and natural for us to do this. But in a wider sense we have no power to make this place an offering in their name, to give any mark of our respect, any sign of our belief. Those men, living and dead, who had no fear in the fight, have given it a name far greater than our poor power to make additions or to take away. The future will take little note of what we say here; will not long keep it in mind. But what they did here will never go from memory. It is for us, the living, to give ourselves here to the work which is not ended, which they who were in the fight have taken forward to this point so well. It is for us to give ourselves here to the great work which is still before us, so that from these dead who are in our hearts we may take an increased love of the cause for which they gave the last full measure of their love; so that we may here come to the high decision that these dead will not have given themselves to no purpose; so that this nation, under the Father of All, may have a new birth in the hope to be free; and so that government of all, by all, and for all, may not come to an end on the earth.

どちらが良いかということではなく、こういう英語もあり得るということです。