Re: E-Prime

Kathryn Aegis (aegis@igc.apc.org)
Fri, 9 May 1997 18:25:00 +0000


Dan Hook:
>addition, are there any other natural languages without a form of to be?

Many Asian languages do not accomodate the concept of an individual,
personal 'be'.

While I agree that English speakers grossly overruse the verbal
constructions of 'be', I don't support trashing it altogether. The
flexibility and scope of the English language creates an enormous
toolbox for writing. E-Prime's value to me lies in its emphasis on
utilizing the more neglected constructions.

Sin,

Kathryn Aegis