Conceptualizing the environment

Abstract This paper provides an overview of how the Natural Semantic Metalanguage ( nsm ) framework can contribute to environmental humanities. It emphasizes the centrality of key words in environmental discourses and explains what “ nsm -enabled” lexical-conceptual semantics based on simple translatable words can offer in this respect. It also provides summary descriptions of each of the Special Issue’s in-depth case studies concerning five distinctive geographical locations — Finland, Greenland, China, Solomon Islands and Denmark.