Semantics in the time of coronavirus: “Virus”, “bacteria”, “germs”, “disease” and related concepts

This study proposes Natural Semantic Metalanguage semantic explications for the English words virus (in two senses), bacteria, germs, and related sick, ill, disease. We concentrate on their nave or folk meanings (Apresjan 1992) in everyday English, as opposed to scientific semi-scientific meanings. In this way, paper makes a start uncovering epidemiology embedded lexicon. The semantics of like virus, bacteria germs is not, however, purely academic matter. It also matter effective health education communication. To reach people at time an epidemic, explanations need connect with ordinary peoples ways thinking speaking. argues that simple cross-translatable NSM, minimal languages based it, can be tools not only linguistic but communication everywhere - local school world large.