Selected list of Semantic Domains for a short Rapid Word Collection Workshop
See rapidwords.net and ngbible.com/tools for more information. Edited by Jonathan Barnhoorn, Andy Kellogg & David Rowbory, March 2014.
1.6.1 Types of animals
Use this domain for words describing types of animals. Use a book of pictures to identify each species and its scientific name. This section is organized according to the scientific, biological classification of animals. It may not correspond to the local classification of animals (folk taxonomy), which are often based on how people relate to animals (tame/wild, edible/work). Use this domain for words referring to large classes of animals that do not correspond to the scientific classification. For instance this would be the place for a word like 'flying animal', which includes birds, bats, and flying insects.
1: What words refer to types of animals? phylum, class, order, family, genus, species…
2: What words refer to wild animals? wild (animal), untamed, feral, wildlife, beast
3: What words refer to tame animals? tame (animal), tamed, domesticated, livestock, pet
4: What words refer to the process of taming an animal? tame, domesticate, break (a horse)
5: What words refer to animals that eat certain things? carnivore, carnivorous, meat eater, meat eating, predator…
6: What words refer to whether or not an animal can be eaten? edible, non-edible, clean, unclean, kosher
7: What words refer to where an animal lives? amphibian, aquatic, arboreal, barnyard, tropical
1.6.1.1 Mammal
Use this domain for general words referring to mammals (phylum Chordata, class Mammalia).
1: What general words refer to mammals? mammal, mammalian, animal
1.6.1.1.1 Primate
Use this domain for primates (phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Primates).
1: What general words refer to primates? primate, ape, monkey, anthropoid
2: What species of primates are there? baboon, capuchin, chimpanzee, colobus, gibbon, gorilla, langur, lemur, orangutan,
1.6.1.1.2 Carnivore
Use this domain for carnivores--meat-eating animals (phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora).
1: What general words refer to carnivores? carnivore, meat eater, meat eating
2: What animals are in the dog family? dog, wolf, coyote, fox, jackal, wild-dog, dingo
3: What animals are in the cat family? cat, lion, lioness, leopard, leopardess, genet, wild-cat, bobcat, cheetah, tiger…
4: What animals are in the bear family? bear, grizzly, koala, panda, polar bear
5: What animals are in the weasel family? weasel, ermine, ferret, marten, mink, otter, polecat, skunk, stoat
6: What animals are in the sable family? sable, wolverine
7: What animals are in the civet cat family? civet cat, mongoose
8: What other carnivores are there? hyena, raccoon, coon
1.6.1.1.3 Hoofed animals
1: What general words refer to hoofed animals? ungulate, herbivore, clean animal, ruminant
2: What species of two-toed hoofed animals are there? cattle, cow, goat, sheep, alpaca, antelope, bighorn sheep,…
3: What species of four-toed hoofed animals are there? pig, hog, warthog, peccary, javelina, hippopotamus
4: What species of odd-toed hoofed animals are there? horse, donkey, zebra, tapir, rhinoceros, elephant
1.6.1.1.4 Rodent: gnawing animals
1: What general words refer to rodents? rodent
2: What species of rodent are there? rat, mouse, squirrel, chipmunk, marmot, beaver, porcupine, capybara, cavy, chinchilla, coypu, gerbil, gopher, hamster, lemming, muskrat, vole, woodchuck
3: What species of insect eating animals are there? mole, shrew, hedgehog
4: What species of rabbit are there? rabbit, cottontail, hare, pika
5: What species of hyrax are there? hyrax, coney, dassy
1.6.1.1.6 Anteater, aardvark
Use this domain for mammals with few or no teeth and platypus--mammals that lay eggs
1: What species of anteaters are there? anteater, sloth, armadillo
2: What species of pangolin are there? pangolin, scaly anteater
3: What words refer to the aardvark? aardvark
4: What species of mammals lay eggs? duckbill platypus, spiny anteater
1.6.1.1.7 Sea mammal
1: What general words refer to sea mammals? cetacean, pinniped
2: What species of whales and dolphins are there? whale, sperm whale, killer whale, blue whale, right whale, dolphin
3: What species of seals are there? seal, walrus, sea lion
4: What species of sea cow are there? sea cow, manatee
1.6.1.1.8 Bat
1: What general words refer to bats? bat
2: What types of bats are there? fruit bat, vampire bat
1.6.1.2 Bird
1: What general words refer to birds? bird, fowl, poultry
2: What words refer to kinds of birds? bird of prey, songbird, flightless bird, flying, water bird, arboreal, domesticated…
3: What species of bird are there?
4: What words describe birds? long-necked, short-necked, long-winged, zygodactyl
1.6.1.3 Reptile
1: What general words refer to reptiles? reptile, reptilian
1.6.1.3.1 Snake
1: What general words refer to snakes? snake, serpent
2: What types of snakes are there? constrictor, poisonous
3: What species of snake are there? rattlesnake, python, boa, anaconda, cobra, viper, mamba, sea snake, adder…
1.6.1.3.2 Lizard
1: What general words refer to lizards? lizard
2: What species of lizard are there? chameleon, agama lizard, skink, gecko, monitor lizard, iguana
1.6.1.3.3 Turtle
1: What general words refer to turtles? turtle (water), tortoise (land)
2: What species of turtles are there? box turtle, leatherback, snapping turtle, Galapagos tortoise, terrapin
1.6.1.3.4 Crocodile
1: What species of crocodiles are there? alligator, caiman, crocodile
1.6.1.4 Amphibian
1: What general words refer to amphibians? frog (water), toad (land), amphibian
2: What species of amphibians are there? bullfrog, tree frog, horned toad, mud puppy, newt, salamander, eft
3: What words refer to a baby amphibian? tadpole
1.6.1.5 Fish
1: What general words refer to animals that live in the water? fish, water animal, sea creature
2: What species of freshwater fish are there? trout, minnow, catfish, mudfish, perch
3: What species of saltwater fish are there? anchovy, barracuda, bass, blackfish, bonefish, bream,…
4: What words refer to the very small animals in the ocean? plankton
5: What words describe where a fish lives? freshwater, saltwater, pelagic, marine, aquatic
6: What words describe fish? bony, finned, jawed, jawless, lobe-finned, poisonous, snouted
1.6.1.6 Shark, ray: animals with cartilage instead of bones
1: What types of sharks and rays are there? shark, ray, stingray, skate, chimera
2: What types of eels are there? eel, electric eel, slime eel, hagfish, lamprey
3: What words describe sharks and rays? cartilaginous, ray-finned, soft finned
1.6.1.7 Insect
Use this domain for the names of insect species. Note that insects have six legs and spiders have eight legs. However some languages may not distinguish insects from spiders and may use other characteristics to sub-divide the Arthropods.
1: What general words refer to insects? insect, bug
2: What species of insects are there? ant, army ant, armyworm, bedbug, bee, beetle, bluebottle fly, botfly,…
3: What special kinds of workers exist within an insect colony? queen (ant/bee), worker, drone (bee), soldier
4: What words describe insects? borer, carnivorous, cosmopolitan, crawling, creeping, diurnal, dauber, flying, hopper, …
1.6.1.8 Spider
Use this domain for spiders (phylum Arthropoda, class Arachnida). Note that insects have six legs and spiders have eight legs. However some languages may not distinguish insects from spiders and may use other characteristics to sub-divide the Arthropods.
1: What general words refer to spiders? spider, arachnid
2: What species of spiders are there? black widow, brown recluse, tarantula, wolf spider, scorpion, tick, mite
3: What words refer to spider webs? spider web, cobweb, web, spin, silk
1.6.1.9 Small animals
Use this domain for the names of worms, animals with shells, and other animals that do not fit into any of the other categories.
1: What general words refer to small animals such as worms? worm, shellfish
2: What words refer to one-celled animals (phylum Protozoa)? bacteria, germ, virus
3: What words refer to sponges? (phylum Porifera)? sponge
4: What words refer to water animals with tentacles (phylum Coelenterata)? coral, sea anemone, …
5: What words refer to flatworms (phylum Platyhelminthes)? flatworm, liver fluke, intestinal worm, tapeworm
6: What words refer to roundworms (phylum Nematoda)? roundworm, hookworm, pinworm
7: What words refer to rotifers (phylum Rotifera)? rotifer
8: What words refer to mollusks (phylum Mollusca)? mollusk, snail, slug, abalone, oyster, scallop, mussel, clam…
9: What words refer to segmented worms (phylum Annelida)? segmented worm, earthworm, leech
10: What words refer to walking worms (phylum Onychophora)? velvet worm, walking worm
11: What words refer to crustaceans (phylum Arthropoda, class Crustacea)? crustacean, shrimp, barnacle, pill…
12: What words refer to centipedes--animals with a body with many segments and two legs on each segment (phylum Arthropoda, class Chilopoda)? centipede
13: What words refer to millipedes--animals with a body with many segments and four legs on each segment (phylum Arthropoda, class Diplopoda)? millipede
2.1.1 Head
Use this domain for the parts of the head.
1: What words refer to the head? head
2: What are the parts of the head? feature, scalp, back of the head, chin, temple, poll, skull, brain
3: What are the parts of the face? face, forehead, cheek, chin, cleft (in chin), dimple (in cheek), jaw
4: What are the parts of the neck? neck, nape (back of the neck), throat, Adam's apple, wrinkle, fold in skin of neck
5: What words describe the parts of a person's face? facial, thin (face), high (forehead), thick (eyebrows), long (eyelashes), beady (eyes), stubby (nose), fleshy (cheeks), narrow (mouth), double chin
2.1.1.1 Eye
Use this domain for words related to the eye.
1: What words refer to an eye? eye
2: What are the parts of the eye? eyebrow, brow, eyelash, lash, eyelid, lid, pupil, cornea, iris, white, eyeball, ball of the eye, corner of the eye, tear duct, retina, eye socket
3: What words describe a person's eyes? bloodshot, bleary, bleary-eyed, beady eyes, thick (eyebrows), long (eyelashes), blue-eyed, cross-eyed
4: What do the eyes do? see, cry, water
5: What words refer to the eyes moving? look cross-eyed, roll, flicker, raise, lower, glaze
6: What words refer to the eyelids moving? blink, wink, close, open, squint, open wide (in amazement), bat (eyelids), flutter
7: What do people do to their eyes? rub (your eyes), cover (your eyes)
8: What do the eyes produce? tears
9: What words refer to the material that collects in the corner of the eyes while sleeping? sleep, sand, matter
10: What words refer to the pupil of the eye getting bigger or smaller? dilate
11: What words describe something to do with the eyes? optic, retinal
2.1.1.2 Ear
Use this domain for words related to the ear.
1: What words refer to an ear? ear
2: What are the parts of the ear? earlobe, lobe, inner ear, eardrum, tympanum, Eustachian tube, auditory nerve, canal, cochlea
3: What words describe a person's ears? stick out
4: What do the ears do? hear
5: What words refer to the ears moving? wiggle
6: What do people do to their ears? scratch, pick (your ear), clean, cup (put hand behind to help hearing), pierce (for…
7: What do people do to their ears so they won't hear something? plug your ears, cover your ears, stuff cotton in your ears, stick your fingers in your ears, earplugs
8: What do the ears produce? wax, earwax
9: What do people use to clean their ears? Q-tip
10: What words describe something to do with the ears? aural
2.1.1.3 Nose
Use this domain for words related to the nose.
1: What words refer to the nose? nose
2: What are the parts of the nose? nostril, bridge, septum, sinus, nasal passage, mucous membrane
3: What words describe a person's nose? pointed, flat, turned-up, snub-nosed, stubby, wide, long, upturned, hooked, aquiline
4: What does the nose do? smell, breathe
5: What words describe the way air moves through the nose? sneeze, sniff, sniffle, snort, snuffle, wheeze
6: What words refer to the nose moving? nostrils flare, wrinkle your nose
7: What do people do to their nose? hold your nose, pierce (the septum), put a ring in (the nose)
8: What words describe something to do with the nose? nasal
2.1.1.4 Mouth
Use this domain for words related to the mouth. Do not use this domain for words referring to eating, drinking, or speaking.
1: What words refer to the mouth? mouth
2: What are the parts of the mouth? lip, tongue, tooth, gum, uvula, palate, alveolar ridge, mouth cavity, roof, velum, throat
3: What words describe a person's mouth? narrow, curved, thin lips, thick lips
4: What do people do with their mouth? breathe, talk, eat, taste, clear your throat, suck, blow, kiss, gag
5: What words refer to moving the mouth? open, close, smile, purse your lips
6: What words refer to yawning? yawn, yawn (n)
7: What words refer to vomiting? vomit (v), vomit (n), regurgitate, disgorge, heave, retch, throw up
8: What do people do with their tongue? lick, lick your lips, stick your tongue out, click your tongue, bite your tongue
9: What do people do to their mouth? wipe, cover, gag someone
10: What words describe something to do with the mouth? oral, orally, labial, palatal, velar
2.1.1.5 Tooth
1: What words refer to a tooth? tooth, incisor, canine tooth, molar, wisdom tooth, milk tooth, baby tooth
2: What are the parts of a tooth? enamel, root, crown, ivory
3: What words describe a person's teeth? even, crooked, decayed, white, yellow
4: What do the teeth do? bite, chew
5: What words refer to moving the teeth against each other? grind, gnash
6: What do people do to their teeth? pick
7: What words describe something to do with the teeth? dental
2.1.2 Torso
1: What words refer to the torso? body, trunk, torso, abdomen, abdominal
2: What are the parts of the torso? shoulder, chest, breast, bust, nipple, teat, bosom, stomach, belly, tummy, navel, belly button, back, lower back, rear end, buttock, bottom, behind, side, waist, middle, hip, girdle, groin, hollow part of hip, anus, lumbar…
2.1.3 Limb: either an arm or a leg.
1: What words refer to a limb? limb, extremity, arms and legs
2.1.3.1 Arm
1: What words refer to the arm? arm
2: What are the parts of the arm? shoulder, armpit, upper arm, elbow…, forearm, lower arm, wrist
3: What words refer to the hand? hand, right hand, left hand, heel of hand, palm, back of hand
4: What words refer to a part of an arm when it is in a particular position? crook (of the arm when it is bent), fist
2.1.3.2 Leg
1: What general words refer to the entire leg? leg