Re: How to minimize "words" (was "Re: isolating conlangs")

In a message dated 2/24/2007 7:54:17 PM Central Standard Time,
rakko@CHARTER.NET writes:


> > Taking a look at the NSM...
> >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Semantic_Metalanguage
> >
> > ...I see it has a hearing bias, which I suppose can be forgiven ("say"
> > is primitive, but not "sign".  Why shouldn't the primitive simply
> > be "express", and whether it's done in writing, with speech, or
> > with hands be a manner adverbial?).
>
NSM is based on concepts that occur (supposedly) in every language.  Some
languages don't have writing.  WRITE itself is not a basic concept.

stevo