【正文】 ychology. Zhang and Jiang Minmin (2020) did some thorough research on NSM theory. They used the basic semantic to explain the meaning in different languages. They also discussed the content and recent development of NSM theory,. Subsequently, they pointed out the challenges of the theory. A great number of scholars are devoted to the research of NSM. Professor Li Jiongying mainly focuses on semantics, crosscultural pragmatics, intercultural munication, Second Language Acquisition and foreign language education. Li explored the similarities and differences between the semantic theories of Wierzbicka?s Natural Semantic Metalanguage and Jackendoff?s Conceptual Structure from perspective of semantic primes (Li, 2020). Despite the fact that both theories are 9 dedicated to the identifying of semantic primes, there exist three fundamental differences. Li made quite a contribution to NSM theory. For example, in his essay, Li proposes that NSM theory is a new paradigm within contemporary semantics. Cultural Script approach is useful in exploring the semantic universals entailed in plicated language phenomena, and in representing the cultural norms and values which are reflected in language. Thus it provides a semantic approach to the study of crosscultural pragmatics (Li, 2020). Pu Dongmei summarized that the NSM is a depositional system of meaning representation based upon empirically established universal semantic primes. It deals with the crosscultural language in reductive semantic analysis by means of cultural script (Pu, 2020). Compared with the traditional crosscultural semantic analysis approach, NSM has the merits of direct perception and neutral description, and therefore, is of great importance to the research of contemporary crosscultural semantics and pragmatics. Besides, Chen Chunchu, Lu Zhi, Zhang Zhe and many other domestic scholars have made a prehensive introduction of the NSM theory, promoting this study to a new stage. Summary We have made great achievements on NSM. However, because of the testability of the NSM, it would be more persuasive if some tests and surveys are launched before this paper. There is plenty to solve. 10 Chapter 3 The Translatability View of NSM Theory Of this chapter, the first issue to be discussed is the philosophical foundation of NSM theory and the translatability view of NSM theory, followed by the extraction of semantic primes and the application of semantic primes in reductive paraphrase. The Philosophical Foundation of NSM Theory NSM theory, which was set up by Poland Semantic School, originated from philosophy. It was based on rationalism traditions, which came from quite a number of outstanding philosophers? works, such as Leibniz and Arnauld?s works. Leibniz saw semantic primes as “the alphabet of human thoughts” (Wierzbicka 1996). He saw verbal signs as tools. In addition, only with the help of this tool, human minds can make progress in all fields. And on this basis he put forward a profound thinking. That is verbal sign. It is a higher form of human minds, so human mind is a necessity. Arnauld and Nicole, who are members of PortRoyal School, pointed out that it was impossible for human beings to define each word, because we need to use another word to point out a concept clearly, and the concept was associated with another concept that we have to define. This evidence suggested that the process of defining a word was endless, because we always need another word to define a word. As a result, we have to stay on the primitive which has not been defined (Arnauld amp。 關(guān)鍵詞 ：自然語義元語言；通譯性；語義基元；化簡釋義 III Contents Acknowledgment…………………… ……………………………………… ..........Ⅰ Abstract (English)...………… .…………… .………… .……………………………… ..Ⅱ Abstract (Chinese)………… .…………………………………………………… ...Ⅲ Chapter 1 Introduction..........................................................................................1 Research Background …………………………………………………………… .1 Significance of the Research …………………………………………………… ...2 Significance in Translation ………………………………………………… .2 Significance in Foreign Language Teaching ………………………………… 2 Significance in Lexicography … …………………………………………… 3 Purpose of the Research ………………………………………………………… ...3 Layout of the Paper ……………………………………………………………… .4 Chapter 2 Literature Review……………………………………………………….… 5 Related Terms …………………………………………………………………… ..5 Natural Semantic Metalanguage ……………………………………………… 5 Semantic Core ………………………………………………………………… 5 Semantic Prime ………………………………………………………………..5 Reductive Paraphrase …………………………………………………………. 6 Studies on NSM Abroad .…… .……………………………………………… ..6 Studies on NSM at Home… .……………… ..………………………………… .8 Summary ………………………………………………………………………… .9 Chapter 3 The Translatability View of NSM Theory……..………………… .10 The Philosophical Foundation of NSM Theory.......................................................10 Translatability view...................................................................................11 Extraction of Semantic Primes...................................................................12 The Application of Semantic Primes in Reductive Paraphrase................................13 Limitation of NSM Theory ………………………………………………………. 14 Summary ………………………………………………………………………… 16 Chapter 4 Conclusion...............................................................................................17 Major findings ………………………………………………………………… .17 Implications of the Research……………………………………………………… 17 Limitations of the Research…………………………………………………… ...17 Suggestions for further Research……………………………………………… ...18 Bibliography........................................................................................