Overcoming the linguistic challenges for ethno-epistemology: NSM perspectives

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version

Submitted Manuscript (SM)

Author(s)
Goddard, Cliff
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)

Mizumoto, Masaharu

Ganeri, Jonardon

Goddard, Cliff

Date
2020
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Scholars working in ethno-epistemology need to tread carefully in how they formulate their discussions in order to circumvent or minimise several dangers, such as conceptual imposition from English or other home languages and relying too heavily on some semantic subtlety peculiar to their own language. The Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) approach to meaning, originated by Anna Wierzbicka, offers a well developed framework for overcoming these dangers. Based on a decades-long program of conceptual analysis and cross-linguistic empirical research, NSM is the only comprehensive approach to meaning that confronts the challenges of Anglocentrism and Eurocentrism head on, by seeking to base its representations on simple cross-translatable words. It offers the prospect of authentically modelling the thoughts and meanings of ordinary native speakers, insofar as it uses non-technical words that are accessible to speakers in their own language. It also provides procedures for dealing with ambiguity and vagueness of words, including how to distinguish lexical polysemy (distinct-yet-related meanings) from semantic generality.n This chapter overviews the NSM program, summarising the research base behind it and exemplifying its key concepts and methods with examples relevant to ethno-epistemology. The chapter seeks to demonstrate that the NSM program can provide a suitable metalanguage for ethno-epistemology.

Journal Title
Conference Title
Book Title

Ethno-Epistemology: New Directions for Global Epistemology

Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

© 2020 Taylor & Francis. This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge Press in Ethno-Epistemology: New Directions for Global Epistemology on 17 May 2020, available online: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003037774

Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Cultural studies

Linguistics

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Goddard, C, Overcoming the linguistic challenges for ethno-epistemology: NSM perspectives, Ethno-Epistemology: New Directions for Global Epistemology, 2020, pp. 130-153

Collections