Language Meaning Reimagined as a Safety-First Framework

Researchers at the University of Vermont propose ousiometrics, a new framework that says language meaning is organized around power, danger, and structure (a safety bias) rather than the traditional emotion-centered valence/arousal/dominance model. Analyzing billions of word uses with a new ousiometer, they claim this three-dimensional approach explains more of meaning variation (over 90%) than the old model and has wide implications for AI, NLP, and how we understand risk and coordination in communication.