PurposeAfter the postwar years, the realisation that parts of the world, real, imaginary or abstract, can be seen as “related properties or objects”, the systemic view, has resulted in an immense production of, by and large, speculative intellectual output. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how following the methodology of conventional science, the systemic view can be turned into systems science.Design/methodology/approachBasic notions which transcend discipline boundaries are put forward. Natural language is used as the primary model for description of human activity and other scenarios leading to its processing into homogeneous language of one‐ and two‐place declarative sentences, the minimal elements which still reflect the systemic view. These sentences are called “ordered pairs” in static state and “dynamic sentences” in dynamic state. Complex models are developed: as sets of ordered pairs from which meaningful objects and “products” can be deduced (static linguistic modelling) leading to hierarchical structures; and as sequences of predicate logic statements which propagate changes of states towards final states (dynamic linguistic modelling).FindingsStatic and dynamic linguistic modelling is used together when products are expressed as sets and in design of products and systems. Linguistic networks, semantic diagrams and an information theory which is an integral part of the dynamics of change, are introduced.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of application of a formal method to scenarios with human components with “will” need to be debated.Practical implicationsOnce software is developed, a comprehensive method for analysis and design of scenarios is available.Originality/valueHomogeneous language exhibiting the structure and semantics of products and systems based on recognition of empirical and linguistic invariants and carrying uncertainty and mathematics, is put forward.