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. This 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. These explications also allow comparison of different words, in particular, synonyms, to see precisely in what way the words' meanings are different.
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.