A computer-implemented method provides, to a user, representations of a plurality of discriminants of meanings of a plurality of symbols in a natural language. Each of the plurality of discriminants is associated with a corresponding finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the discriminant. The discriminants are orthogonal to each other. The method receives, from the user, input representing a plurality of answers to the plurality of discriminants. Each of the plurality of answers from the user is selected from the finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the corresponding discriminant. The method generates, in response to the input, a data structure tangibly stored in a computer-readable memory. The data structure includes data representing the plurality of answers from the user and thereby represents a meaning of one of the plurality of symbols in the natural language.