On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 22:53,
<MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com> wrote:
One of the aims of NSM (and a minor one, I think) is to find the semantic primitives of language(s).
The main aim is to use those primitives in defining non-primitive terms. ÂThis is done with "explications", or scenario-like quasi-definitions that give much more information about the real meaning of a word than standard definitions do. ÂThese explications also allow comparison of different words, in particular, synonyms, to see precisely in what way the words' meanings are different. Â
That's on the level of a more detailed definition. It can still capture only an approximation all the usage in all possible scenarios that any fluent speaker knows intuitively.
--
Adam Raizen <
adam.raizen@gmail.com>
Timendi causa est nescire.