Seven essential messages for the time of the coronavirus

Abstract

At the time of the coronavirus pandemic it is has become clearer than ever before that at certain times, certain messages need to be shared globally: they need to be accessible to everyone, everywhere on earth. This is possible only if there is a shared 'language of thought' in which such messages can be formulated. To some extent, Minimal English can serve as such a shared language. It is far more effective, however, if the same 'essential messages' can be read, or heard, by everyone in their own native language-provided that they can all match in meaning and thus be truly global in what they say. This chapter seeks to demonstrate that minimal languages derived from the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) can enable us to achieve this goal. It does so by putting forward 'Seven Essential Messages for the Time of the Coronavirus'. This time of pandemic is a time when the universal reach of NSM-based minimal languages can be truly put to test.