Replacing Dramatica's Semantic Terms

Here's a note I wrote to Chris in 1994 on thoughts about replacing Dramatica's logical terminology with a more emotional set of semantics which would be just as accurate but more easily accessible.

Semantic Conversions from a K based system to a D based system.

Chris - I think we can create a completely different semantic "overlay" of template that can translate the engine into a D based system without having to do anything but replace the existing words. If we label the structure with dynamic terms and change the descriptions of 12 essential questions, the entire underlying mechanism can remain the same, yet the right minded view of storyform will be completely accessible.

In practice:

The only quad that remains the same is the TKAD quad. After that, everything takes a different name. Sample conversions are:

Pursuit = yearn
Avoid = shun

Self-Interest = Greed
Morality = Generosity

Situation = conditions
Circumstances = relationships

Some terms would naturally remain the same, as they are common to both minds.

The 12 essential questions would become more emotional in their power to evaluate. For example:

Success = Joy
Failure = Sorrow

Good = Satisfied
Bad = Unsatisfied

The new 12 questions would give rise to new high level appreciations such as:

Content or Discontent

Fulfilled or Unfulfilled

Seems to me that if we could develop this template and supporting definitions, it might be easy enough to offer this perspective in the first version release. The original semantics would be Cognitive (logical) and the second set would be Affective (emotional) - of course we will need better words than these as they are both too sterile. The point is, that right now we are only providing an intellectual appreciation of the story model that works best for calculating writers. But for the touchy-feely writers, the emotional approach will be much more comfortable.

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