A theory of Semantics Based on Old Arabic

Abstract

In this chapter, we show how we derived a universal theory of semantics. Then we discuss the discovery’s impact on automated learning and text analysis. Using induction, we derive general principles from some observations on word meanings in Old Arabic passages called muhkam. Muhkam means that the meaning is made perfectly clear. We find that the 32 sounds of Arabic are signs that refer to abstract objects generated from two symmetry pairs and a three-element set. We show that word roots are structured signs referring to structured abstract objects. Arabic roots and their interpretations and reinterpretations form an abstract set of concepts that can be used as cognitive tools over which any language can render reality. We realized this in a software system we called Readware which performs automated text exploration and analysis in English, German and French, on and off the internet.