Page:An attempt towards an international language.pdf/34

 1. Pronounce each word as it is written.

2. Accent the syllable before the last.

3. Compound words are formed by the union of independent ones separated by a hyphen, the principal idea being placed at the end; thus, steamship is vapor-shipo, where vapor means steam, ship, ship, and “o” is the substantive termination.

4. Double negatives are not allowable.

5. A word designating a place towards which action is, directed takes the accusative termination; thus, kie vi est-as, where are you? ki-en vi ir-as, whither are you going.

6. Every preposition has a determinate and fixed signiﬁcation, but where it is needed in a phrase where a choice is not definitely indicated, the preposition “je,” having no set meaning is to be employed ; thus “ghoj-i je ti-o,” to rejoice over it; “enu-jo je la patr-uj-o,” longing for one’s fatherland; “rid-i je ti-o,” to laugh at it, etc.

Every language poms this indefinite method of usage with more or less damage to the perspicuity of the meaning Here we only use “je,” and indeed where no obscurity is likely to occur the accusative can be used without any preposition.

7. “Foreign” words change only to conform to my orthography; that is, in the case of primary words. Derivative words had better be formed after my method; thus, “tragedi-o,” but “tragedi-a,” tragical; “teatr-o,” theatre; “teatr-a,” theatrical.

8. The termination “o” of the substantive and “a” of the article can be elided if desired, as, Shiller, instead of Shiller-o; de l’ Mond-o, instead of de la Mondo.