Anna Wiersbicka is a Polish-Australian researcher in language semantics who is proposing that all concepts in all languages can be defined in terms of 61 basic concepts, called “primitives”. In a very interesting article in the NRC Handelsblad of Saturday, September 20, 2003, she elaborates on this theory.
In short, these 61 primitives can be represented by 61 words (or word groups) in all languages. By stringing these 61 words together with a suitable mini-grammar, any concept can be explained. Strangely enough, the definitions themselves read like poems. For example:
living things / these things can’t feel something / these things can’t do something
This is the Wiersbicka definition of a “plant” using only words from the 61 primitives. It gets more abstract:
something very big / people can see it / people can think like this about this something: / it is a place / it is above all other places / it is far from people
This might sound like a round-about definition for “sky”, but take into account that the 61 primitives have to exist in all languages. This means that any definition will also be usable in any human language.
6 Comments to “61 words”
September 22, 2003
Wat is pienk, het ‘n slurp en loop op tralies? Do that in 61 primitives.
September 22, 2003
sounds interesting - will be looking into it when im back in SA. Had interesting chats with various people at NNSP so Im all stoked about this type of this again.
September 23, 2003
Just 61 primitives? Interesting!
I’ll try to find the article on the NRC website.
If I can’t find it, would you mind keeping a copy of the newspaper for me?
September 23, 2003
I still have the “Wetenschap & Onderwijs” extract lying here. I’ll take it to work on Wednesday for your weekly visit!
September 24, 2003
Unfortunately, this week I won’t be able to make it on Wednesday. Maybe next week?
September 24, 2003
I’ll keep it at the office. See you next week!