Beyond Facets: Semantic Roots and Modifiers as Elements of a Conceptual Morphology

Abstract

This paper presents initial ideas on a conceptual morphology in which concepts such as Fermentation, Fermented, and Fermentable are represented as combinations of a semantic root, in the example Ferment, with a modifier, in the example process, state/condition, and susceptible to process, respectively. This makes it possible to generate a large number of concepts from a much smaller list of semantic roots and modifiers. It also allows for great flexibility in indexing and searching. The paper gives a preliminary scheme of modifiers and invites ideas from classification researchers, logicians, and linguists.