UNIVERSALS OF LEXICAL SIMPLIFICATION

Abstract

Lexical simplification–the process and/or result of making do with less words–can be studied in a variety of linguistic contexts: translation, the usage of language learners, the usage of language teachers, pidginization, foreigner talk, simplified reading texts for learners. It operates according to universal principles that derive from semantic competence in the mother tongue. By means of a comparative study of some of these contexts–translation, the usage of second language learners and teachers, simplified reading texts–the operation of these universal principles is demonstrated. Aspects of simplification examined in detail include the use of superordinate terms, approximation, synonymy, transfer, circumlocution and paraphrase. A distinction is drawn between strategies and processes of simplification. “Strategy” refers to the way the learner/user arrives at a certain usage at a specific point in time, and “process” refers to the systematic series of steps by which the learner/user arrives at the same usage over time. Strategies may be process‐initiating (e.g. over‐generalization, transfer) or situation, bound (e.g. circumlocution, paraphrase).

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