Otto Jespersen

First published in 2006. Novial (NOV - new, International Auxiliary Language)is one of the easiest constructed languages, partly because it highly resembles English. The multilingual dictionary of 1930, Novial-Lexike, may be in itself a sufficient guide to learn Novial. The reader will find : (1) an introduction showing the urgent need for such a language, (2) the history of the movement with criticism of earlier proposed artificial languages, (3) a detailed grammar, in which, chapter by chapter. the reasons are given that have led to precisely those and to no other forms , (4) the scientific principles of word selection, and (5) some specimens intended to show the use of the language for different purposes and in different styles.

This book was first published in 1954.

This book was first published in 1954.

Otto Jespersen is one of the foremost philologists of recent times. A genius phoneticist and a revolutionary force in the teaching of languages, Jespersen's contribution to the understanding of language cannot be overrated. This set offers an unprecedented opportunity to own all of his most influential works written in English in one superb collection. It includes his much referenced 'Modern English Grammar', 'The Philosophy of Grammar', 'How to Teach a Foreign Language', as well as a tome documenting his own constructed language 'Novial Lexike.'