general semantics


noun (used with a singular verb)

a philosophical approach to language, developed by Alfred Korzybski, exploring the relationship between the form of language and its use and attempting to improve the capacity to express ideas.

Origin of general semantics

First recorded in 1930–35

British Dictionary definitions for general semantics

general semantics

noun

(functioning as singular) a school of thought, founded by Alfred Korzybski, that stresses the arbitrary nature of language and other symbols and the problems that result from misunderstanding their nature