# Simpli Language Specification | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | **Version** | 0.1 (draft) | | **Document status** | Archived reference (numbered sections) | | **Publication date** | 2026-04-20 | | **Canonical site** | [https://simpli.global](https://simpli.global) | This document is the **full, consolidated** specification for the Simpli auxiliary language. It merges orthography, grammar, and vocabulary policy. Section numbers are stable for citation and archival. The same material is maintained in the repository under `spec/` as modular Markdown files (`ORTHOGRAPHY.md`, `GRAMMAR.md`, `VOCABULARY.md`). --- ## 1. Scope and normative sources Simpli is a proposed international auxiliary language: English-derived vocabulary, Indonesian-style analytic grammar, and phonetic spelling. This specification defines the written standard for spelling, core grammar, and vocabulary strategy. Informative references on the live site (replace `/en/` with `/fr/` or `/es/` as needed): - Spelling: - Alphabet rationale: - Grammar overview: - Grammar rules: - Vocabulary: - Essential words: - Roots: --- ## 2. Orthography ### 2.1 Alphabet - **Vowels:** a, e, i, o, u (long: aa, ee, ii, oo, uu — doubled letter). - **Consonants:** p, b, t, d, k, g, m, n, f, s, l, r, h, **v**, w, y. **No letter c** (removed entirely). Use **k** for /k/. The sound /tʃ/ is written **tj**; /dʒ/ is written **dj** (symmetrical with tj). **G** always = /g/ (hard g). The [v]/[w] sound is written **v** (standard); **w** can still be used for familiarity with English. The two sounds are equivalent. There is no *th*, *z*, *sh* in the inventory as in English; they map to other letters (see section 2.2). ### 2.2 Letter mappings - **th** → d (*dis*, *dat*, *dey*) - **v / w** — Simpli treats the English v and w sounds as equivalent. The standard spelling uses **v**: *seven*, *vata* (water), *vuman* (woman), *hav*, *giv*, *liv*, *mov*, *river*, *even*. **W** can still be used for familiarity (e.g. *wata*, *wi*, *windo*). Speakers may pronounce either way. - **ch** → **tj** (no letter c in Simpli): *tjaild* (child), *tiitjer* (teacher), *tjeendj* (change), *tjiiz* (cheese). For /k/ always **k**: *skul*, *akson*. - **ph** → f (*fon*) - **sh** → s; **z** → s when needed - **g** = /g/ (always hard): *go*, *gud*, *giv*, *langwidj*. G never represents /dʒ/. - **dj** = /dʒ/ (symmetrical with **tj** = /tʃ/): *djob*, *djeneral*, *djaiant*, *meidjer*, *bridj* - **ou** — The sound /uː/ or /ʊ/ is written **u**. Standard spelling is *yu* (you); *you* is acceptable for clarity or familiarity. ### 2.3 Orthography rules 1. **One sound = one spelling;** no silent letters (*lait*, *windo*, *dor*, *bred*, *faind*, *plei*). 2. **Long vowels = doubled letter:** Short vowel = single letter; long vowel = doubled letter. *it* vs *iit*, *rod* vs *rood*, *rum* vs *ruum*, *ful* vs *fuul*. The aim is to **differentiate homonyms**; in general **context is enough**. Diphthongs: /aɪ/ → **ai** (*bai*, *tjaild*), /eɪ/ → **ei** (*plei*). 3. **Syllable structure:** (C)V(C). Stress on second-to-last syllable (*komputer*, *yesterde*, *tumoro*). 4. **Common endings:** -tion/-sion → -son (*akson*, *vison*), -ture → -tur, -ous → -us. 5. **ou → u:** Standard writing is **yu** (you); **you** is acceptable for clarity or acceptability. 6. **Double consonants:** Not encouraged. Prefer single consonant: *adres* (not *address*). Double consonants are acceptable but the simplified form is preferred. --- ## 3. Grammar ### 3.1 Core rules (numbered) 0. **Pronouns:** One word for third-person singular: *el* = he, she, it. No separate “it”; *el* is used for people and things. 1. **Word order:** Subject – Verb – Object. 2. **No verb conjugation.** Verbs never change. Express time and aspect with fixed particles (before the verb): - **Past:** *did* + verb → *mi did go* (I went) - **Ongoing (present progressive):** *now* + verb → *mi now go* (I am going) - **Future:** *wil* + verb → *mi wil go* (I will go) - **Optional aspect markers:** *olredi* (already), *stil* (still), *not-yet* (not yet) — used when needed for clarity. - Time words like *yesterde*, *tumoro* can be added for precision but are not required when a particle is present. 3. **Negation:** *no* before the verb. 4. **Questions:** Start with wat, hu, wer, wen, wai, hou. 5. **Plural:** Optional; numbers or *meni*. 6. **Articles:** None. No “a” or “the”; omit them. 7. **Adjectives:** Before noun, never change. 8. **Possession:** Noun + possessor (*haus mi* = my house). Optional *of*: *haus (of) mi*, *haus (of) broder (of) mi* = my brother’s house. 9. **Prepositions:** in, on, at, from, to, wit, for. 10. **Connectors:** and, or, but, becos, so. 11. **Compounds:** e.g. sun-light, fast-tren, wata-food. 12. **Numbers (reading aloud):** East Asian–style composition is recommended—name units from large to small, with tens as *digit + ten + digit*. Examples: 34 = *tri ten for*; 3253 = *tri dausand tu hundrad faiv ten tri*. Digits use the essential set (*sero* … *nain*, *ten*); larger units *hundrad* (hundred), *dausand* (thousand). --- ## 4. Vocabulary - **Concept:** English-derived, simplified and phonetic. - **Spelling and loans:** Regularized spelling also takes inspiration from **Spanish**, which assimilates international words to its own norms instead of importing English historical spellings—so loans can be integrated cleanly (e.g. *footbal* → *futbol* in both Spanish and Simpli, beside English *football*). - **Why English (not another language or from scratch):** English is the most widely learned L2 globally, so using it as a base gives the largest transfer benefit and fastest learnability. Other languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin, etc.) help fewer learners worldwide. A fully invented (a priori) vocabulary would be maximally neutral but much harder to learn; Simpli prioritizes quick adoption. - **Base:** ~300–500 essential words for everyday use but could easily be extended as needed. - **Compounds:** New ideas from existing words (sun-light, langwidj-study). --- ## 5. Document control | Item | Detail | | --- | --- | | **PDF file name** | `simpli-specification-v0.1.pdf` | | **Source Markdown** | `spec/SIMPLI-SPECIFICATION.md` in the project repository | | **Change policy** | Version number and date update when normative sections change | _End of specification v0.1._