“Something” as a semantic prime
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Somebody has recently brought to my attention the concept of semantic primes, or words that are so basic in any language that they cannot be properly defined. Usually, they are learned through practice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_primes
My question is to what extent does this concept alter the definition of "something" or "thing"? Does this mean that the meaning of "something" and "thing" are dictated by context alone? Thanks
meaning usage semantics
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
add a comment |
0
Somebody has recently brought to my attention the concept of semantic primes, or words that are so basic in any language that they cannot be properly defined. Usually, they are learned through practice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_primes
My question is to what extent does this concept alter the definition of "something" or "thing"? Does this mean that the meaning of "something" and "thing" are dictated by context alone? Thanks
meaning usage semantics
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
1
Take a look at Natural Semantic Metalanguage for how it's represented. And, yes, the meaning of almost any word is dictated in detail by context; a quantifier like something is part of the grammar, not the lexicon, and has no meaning to start with.
– John Lawler
May 12 at 3:11
@JohnLawler so does this mean that "something" in the sentence "there is something or nothing when you die" can be attributed to the context it is in. In other words, would the domain of discourse be restricted to "reality" in some sort? Also, if something is an indefinite pronoun, would the antecedent be implied in this case? thx
– zp1515
May 13 at 23:48
I have no idea what something might mean in that sentence; it's not colloquial English. If it's intended to mean what I guess it might mean, nobody would say it that way. As for indefinite pronouns, what do you mean? One? Anybody? Singular they? You? The (missing) subject of leaving in Leaving now would be a bad idea?
– John Lawler
May 14 at 2:02
@JohnLawler Yeah I completely agree that SOMETHING used in this way is a very odd way of putting it. The only thing is that MANY people refer to the universe for example when asking "why is there something rather than nothing." How can someone explain what SOMETHING means in that sentence when considering the definition of THING: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/thing. Is SOMETHING an indefinite pronoun in this case that can refer to anything the speaker wants it to refer to? thx
– zp1515
May 14 at 2:55
The word something is a compound of the existential quantifier some and the generic neuter noun thing. It contrasts with someone, somebody, somewhere, sometime(s), and a few other similar compounds like some way. It's part of the grammar and basically has no meaning; the most meaning you can get out of something is that it's a non-living physical phenomenon. That covers a lot of territory; it's not necessarily individuated, for instance.
– John Lawler
May 14 at 4:17
add a comment |
0
0
0
Somebody has recently brought to my attention the concept of semantic primes, or words that are so basic in any language that they cannot be properly defined. Usually, they are learned through practice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_primes
My question is to what extent does this concept alter the definition of "something" or "thing"? Does this mean that the meaning of "something" and "thing" are dictated by context alone? Thanks
meaning usage semantics
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
Somebody has recently brought to my attention the concept of semantic primes, or words that are so basic in any language that they cannot be properly defined. Usually, they are learned through practice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_primes
My question is to what extent does this concept alter the definition of "something" or "thing"? Does this mean that the meaning of "something" and "thing" are dictated by context alone? Thanks
meaning usage semantics
meaning usage semantics
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
asked May 12 at 2:04
zp1515zp1515
62
62
1
Take a look at Natural Semantic Metalanguage for how it's represented. And, yes, the meaning of almost any word is dictated in detail by context; a quantifier like something is part of the grammar, not the lexicon, and has no meaning to start with.
– John Lawler
May 12 at 3:11
@JohnLawler so does this mean that "something" in the sentence "there is something or nothing when you die" can be attributed to the context it is in. In other words, would the domain of discourse be restricted to "reality" in some sort? Also, if something is an indefinite pronoun, would the antecedent be implied in this case? thx
– zp1515
May 13 at 23:48
I have no idea what something might mean in that sentence; it's not colloquial English. If it's intended to mean what I guess it might mean, nobody would say it that way. As for indefinite pronouns, what do you mean? One? Anybody? Singular they? You? The (missing) subject of leaving in Leaving now would be a bad idea?
– John Lawler
May 14 at 2:02
@JohnLawler Yeah I completely agree that SOMETHING used in this way is a very odd way of putting it. The only thing is that MANY people refer to the universe for example when asking "why is there something rather than nothing." How can someone explain what SOMETHING means in that sentence when considering the definition of THING: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/thing. Is SOMETHING an indefinite pronoun in this case that can refer to anything the speaker wants it to refer to? thx
– zp1515
May 14 at 2:55
The word something is a compound of the existential quantifier some and the generic neuter noun thing. It contrasts with someone, somebody, somewhere, sometime(s), and a few other similar compounds like some way. It's part of the grammar and basically has no meaning; the most meaning you can get out of something is that it's a non-living physical phenomenon. That covers a lot of territory; it's not necessarily individuated, for instance.
– John Lawler
May 14 at 4:17
add a comment |
1
Take a look at Natural Semantic Metalanguage for how it's represented. And, yes, the meaning of almost any word is dictated in detail by context; a quantifier like something is part of the grammar, not the lexicon, and has no meaning to start with.
– John Lawler
May 12 at 3:11
@JohnLawler so does this mean that "something" in the sentence "there is something or nothing when you die" can be attributed to the context it is in. In other words, would the domain of discourse be restricted to "reality" in some sort? Also, if something is an indefinite pronoun, would the antecedent be implied in this case? thx
– zp1515
May 13 at 23:48
I have no idea what something might mean in that sentence; it's not colloquial English. If it's intended to mean what I guess it might mean, nobody would say it that way. As for indefinite pronouns, what do you mean? One? Anybody? Singular they? You? The (missing) subject of leaving in Leaving now would be a bad idea?
– John Lawler
May 14 at 2:02
@JohnLawler Yeah I completely agree that SOMETHING used in this way is a very odd way of putting it. The only thing is that MANY people refer to the universe for example when asking "why is there something rather than nothing." How can someone explain what SOMETHING means in that sentence when considering the definition of THING: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/thing. Is SOMETHING an indefinite pronoun in this case that can refer to anything the speaker wants it to refer to? thx
– zp1515
May 14 at 2:55
The word something is a compound of the existential quantifier some and the generic neuter noun thing. It contrasts with someone, somebody, somewhere, sometime(s), and a few other similar compounds like some way. It's part of the grammar and basically has no meaning; the most meaning you can get out of something is that it's a non-living physical phenomenon. That covers a lot of territory; it's not necessarily individuated, for instance.
– John Lawler
May 14 at 4:17
1
1
Take a look at Natural Semantic Metalanguage for how it's represented. And, yes, the meaning of almost any word is dictated in detail by context; a quantifier like something is part of the grammar, not the lexicon, and has no meaning to start with.
– John Lawler
May 12 at 3:11
Take a look at Natural Semantic Metalanguage for how it's represented. And, yes, the meaning of almost any word is dictated in detail by context; a quantifier like something is part of the grammar, not the lexicon, and has no meaning to start with.
– John Lawler
May 12 at 3:11
@JohnLawler so does this mean that "something" in the sentence "there is something or nothing when you die" can be attributed to the context it is in. In other words, would the domain of discourse be restricted to "reality" in some sort? Also, if something is an indefinite pronoun, would the antecedent be implied in this case? thx
– zp1515
May 13 at 23:48
@JohnLawler so does this mean that "something" in the sentence "there is something or nothing when you die" can be attributed to the context it is in. In other words, would the domain of discourse be restricted to "reality" in some sort? Also, if something is an indefinite pronoun, would the antecedent be implied in this case? thx
– zp1515
May 13 at 23:48
I have no idea what something might mean in that sentence; it's not colloquial English. If it's intended to mean what I guess it might mean, nobody would say it that way. As for indefinite pronouns, what do you mean? One? Anybody? Singular they? You? The (missing) subject of leaving in Leaving now would be a bad idea?
– John Lawler
May 14 at 2:02
I have no idea what something might mean in that sentence; it's not colloquial English. If it's intended to mean what I guess it might mean, nobody would say it that way. As for indefinite pronouns, what do you mean? One? Anybody? Singular they? You? The (missing) subject of leaving in Leaving now would be a bad idea?
– John Lawler
May 14 at 2:02
@JohnLawler Yeah I completely agree that SOMETHING used in this way is a very odd way of putting it. The only thing is that MANY people refer to the universe for example when asking "why is there something rather than nothing." How can someone explain what SOMETHING means in that sentence when considering the definition of THING: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/thing. Is SOMETHING an indefinite pronoun in this case that can refer to anything the speaker wants it to refer to? thx
– zp1515
May 14 at 2:55
@JohnLawler Yeah I completely agree that SOMETHING used in this way is a very odd way of putting it. The only thing is that MANY people refer to the universe for example when asking "why is there something rather than nothing." How can someone explain what SOMETHING means in that sentence when considering the definition of THING: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/thing. Is SOMETHING an indefinite pronoun in this case that can refer to anything the speaker wants it to refer to? thx
– zp1515
May 14 at 2:55
The word something is a compound of the existential quantifier some and the generic neuter noun thing. It contrasts with someone, somebody, somewhere, sometime(s), and a few other similar compounds like some way. It's part of the grammar and basically has no meaning; the most meaning you can get out of something is that it's a non-living physical phenomenon. That covers a lot of territory; it's not necessarily individuated, for instance.
– John Lawler
May 14 at 4:17
The word something is a compound of the existential quantifier some and the generic neuter noun thing. It contrasts with someone, somebody, somewhere, sometime(s), and a few other similar compounds like some way. It's part of the grammar and basically has no meaning; the most meaning you can get out of something is that it's a non-living physical phenomenon. That covers a lot of territory; it's not necessarily individuated, for instance.
– John Lawler
May 14 at 4:17
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Take a look at Natural Semantic Metalanguage for how it's represented. And, yes, the meaning of almost any word is dictated in detail by context; a quantifier like something is part of the grammar, not the lexicon, and has no meaning to start with.
– John Lawler
May 12 at 3:11
@JohnLawler so does this mean that "something" in the sentence "there is something or nothing when you die" can be attributed to the context it is in. In other words, would the domain of discourse be restricted to "reality" in some sort? Also, if something is an indefinite pronoun, would the antecedent be implied in this case? thx
– zp1515
May 13 at 23:48
I have no idea what something might mean in that sentence; it's not colloquial English. If it's intended to mean what I guess it might mean, nobody would say it that way. As for indefinite pronouns, what do you mean? One? Anybody? Singular they? You? The (missing) subject of leaving in Leaving now would be a bad idea?
– John Lawler
May 14 at 2:02
@JohnLawler Yeah I completely agree that SOMETHING used in this way is a very odd way of putting it. The only thing is that MANY people refer to the universe for example when asking "why is there something rather than nothing." How can someone explain what SOMETHING means in that sentence when considering the definition of THING: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/thing. Is SOMETHING an indefinite pronoun in this case that can refer to anything the speaker wants it to refer to? thx
– zp1515
May 14 at 2:55
The word something is a compound of the existential quantifier some and the generic neuter noun thing. It contrasts with someone, somebody, somewhere, sometime(s), and a few other similar compounds like some way. It's part of the grammar and basically has no meaning; the most meaning you can get out of something is that it's a non-living physical phenomenon. That covers a lot of territory; it's not necessarily individuated, for instance.
– John Lawler
May 14 at 4:17