NSM-based Language courses
The NSM core of a language is a very small but usable subset of that language. Using only the sixty-odd
words in the NSM core and their basic combinatorial patterns,
- we can say many things, (among which, crucially, culturally significant ones):
Using only the sixty-odd words of the NSM core of a language,
people can express, for example,
cultural scripts. A language which is not used anymore for daily purpose could
nonetheless find its place in a given society to transmit the basic cultural scripts of that society;
- we can learn the basic grammar core of the language (that is, how to put words together):
The NSM core of a language contains (most of) its basic grammar patterns. As the lexical syllabus is
restricted to sixty-odd words, the learner can concentrate him/herself on
the structures of the language. Moreover, the NSM format allows a very "user-friendly" presentation
of grammar;
- we can build a more profound knowledge of the language structure and lexicon upon the NSM core:
The whole of the lexicon and grammar of a language can be built upon its NSM core. Thus, an
intermediate course could be developed which uses the NSM knowledge acquired in the
basic course as the ground on which to build a deeper knowledge of the language.
Language Courses
I will post NSM-based courses as soon as I can write them or receive them by other authors (the software
needed for easy development of courses based on the same template will soon be made available under
the GNU GPL). There are two versions: a printable one (for the time being, only .rtf; other formats will be added)
and an interactive one, which uses dhtml and JavaScript. The printable versions will be released under the
GNU FDL, while the interactive ones are GNU GPL-ed.
Available courses:
- Drafts, which have not yet been reviewed by a mother-tongue contributor, or some other
person who knows the laguage well. Their use as a learning tool is at your own risk; they
could contain errors or other factually inconsistent material. They are posted for review.
If you want to contribute, you can propose your edited version of any sentence using the interactive
(html) course (drafts of the html courses have an "Edit" button for each sentence).
You will thus become contributor of the successive versions (interactive and printed alike).
Drafts are available for the following languages:
- Revised versions: none available.
The software for developing similar courses will be uploaded soon, and released under a GNU-GPL licence.