Obviously teaching literature and books about the Faith can
be written in Simple English. However, we feel that when the Sacred Writings
are published the standard English translation should be used, but there would
be no objection to printing alongside it the translation into Simple English
which should be described as a paraphrase of the Holy Word. Thus, for the
people of ... who have difficulty in comprehending standard English, the simple
English version would be in the nature of an explanation of the Writings which
they could understand. In the case of teaching literature in which quotations
from the Writings appear, these could either be paraphrased or a simple English
version could be used with the standard version printed as a footnote.
This method also provide a means whereby the people of ... could improve their
knowledge and understanding of the English language.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 20
September 1973 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a
National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
