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150 months ago

Amanda Haste PhD, DipTrans(IoLET), MCIL, CL   asked this question:

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150 months ago

   wrote:

semantic empoverishment

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

150 months ago

   wrote:

I mean "impoverishment"

150 months ago

   wrote:

Semantical incidence

150 months ago

   wrote:

the emptying of meaning

My comment:

However, in semantics proper, it could refer to an empty form.

évider is to empty. évidement is the emptying.

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

150 months ago

   wrote:

This sounds very clumsy in English.

150 months ago

   wrote:

Barbara, I believe that is correct word used in the field of semantics. The word nullification is legal, it is not used in semantics. Your opinion is incorrect and misguided and uninformed.

150 months ago

   wrote:

semantic nullification

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

150 months ago

   wrote:

This answer is incorrect and semantically incorrect. évider is to empty. Semantics (the field in linguistics) refers to empty forms; they have a function but are not semantically full. So, the term means emptying of meaning. Clumsy or not!

150 months ago

   wrote:

No, "évider", generally speaking, means "to hollow out". Anything that is "hollow" is, according to Webster's New World Dictionary, "worthless". Hence, I see this as the process of nullifying meaning.

150 months ago

   wrote:

Amanda-Perhaps some other alternatives might be use "semantic paucity," or "semantic insufficiency".

150 months ago

   wrote:

the MENT is an action in French grammar. Évidement, the semantic emptying, the fact of emptying something of meaning.

150 months ago

Amanda Haste PhD, DipTrans(IoLET), MCIL, CL   wrote:

I agree with Barbara that this is a 'hollowing out' rather than an emptying. 'Empty semantics' is possible (though somewhat overused), but I like Barbara's solutions and will probably go with 'semantic paucity' or 'insufficiency'. Nullification seems to imply that the meaning was there originally but has been negated. And Jane, maybe you could tone down your 'You are wrong!' messages? It does seem somewhat rude and there are better ways of expressing oneself. In any case, if these phrases were easily translated by simply referring to a dictionary we wouldn't be posting them on TG!

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