THE DESIGN FEATURES OF GLOSA

Themes Behind the Inception of Glosa

 - Started in 1972 as a global language for science.
 - Streamlined and simplified, it is now presented as a language suitable
     for adoption as the International Auxiliary Language (IAL),
     alternatively, the World's Common Second Language.
 - Designed from the start for maximum ease of learning and use, it was
     put together blending the best features from the various national
     languages.
 - As well as being readily usable by people, the language was designed to
     facilitate the computer handling of information.

Design Features

 # Vocabulary is taken from the Classical roots (Greek & Latin) currently
     found in Science and the Euro-languages.  [ease of recognition]
 # Orthography is the unadorned Latin alphabet. [most typewriters/computers]
 # Pronunciation with the five vowel sounds of Italian; consonants ..
     general European c = CH, j = Y, y = I, g & s both hard. [standardised]
 # Sentence structure uses phrases and clauses, as in English in
     Subject-Verb-Object  sequence.  [most coomonly found order]
 # Grammar relies on syntax (word order); there are no inflections. [no
     grammatical structures to learn] Half of English grammar is like this.
 # There is one main rule: a word is modified by its precedents.  In
     practice, `adjectives' precede `nouns', and tense particles and
     `adverbs' precede the `verbs'.  N.B. `noun' = word used as a noun.
 # Words represent concepts and can be used - within reason - as any part of
     speech. [Chinese is the closest national language to a concept
     language]

Learning Materials

 > "Glosa 6000" dictionary 1992 Edition,  Stg13 includes postage from UK.
 > "18 Steps to Fluency in Euro-glosa" graded instruction plus demonstration
     of linguistic features. Again, Stg13 covers the book and postage.
 > "Plu Glosa Nota" subscription newspaper: contains articles in English and
     Glosa.
 > Penfriend network, exchanging letters and tapes on Glosa.

Go back to Main Menu