Charles Kay Ogden (; 1 June 1889 – 20 March 1957) was an
English linguist, philosopher, and writer. Described as a
polymath but also an
eccentric and outsider, he took part in many ventures related to literature, politics, the arts and philosophy, having a broad effect particularly as an editor, translator, and activist on behalf of a reformed version of the English language. He is typically defined as a
linguistic psychologist, and is now mostly remembered as the inventor and propagator of
Basic English.