Goddard, Cliff (2003). Natural Semantic Metalanguage: Latest perspectives. Theoretical Linguistics, 29(3), 227-236. DOI: 10.1515/thli.29.3.227

Uwe Durst has given a valuable and accurate synopsis of the NSM approach to linguistic meaning in this special issue of Theoretical Linguistics. I attempt in turn to augment and clarify certain points, under the following headings:

  1. The syntax of semantic metalanguage
  2. NSM in comparison with (other) formal systems
  3. Semantic complexity, semantic molecules, and substitutability
  4. Using indigenous NSMs in fieldwork and in grammatical description