natural semantic metalanguage

Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) is a way of studying how language expresses ideas by breaking down words and concepts into simple, universal building blocks. It assumes that all humans share some basic ideas—like “I,” “want,” or “good” — that are common across different languages and cultures. By analyzing these fundamental elements, linguists can better understand how meaning works universally, making it easier to compare languages and grasp how people communicate complex thoughts using simple parts.