ABSTRACT

A New Semiotics is an introductory guide to the field of semiotics. Assuming no prior knowledge of semiotics, this accessible text takes a fresh look at semiotics and suggests that many of the forebears and many contemporary contributors to semiotics have misconstrued the nature of their work.

The authors start off by asking ‘What is semiotics?’ and go on to outline a journey towards a new semiotics. It offers a clearer way forward out of the prison of complexity invented by the fathers of contemporary semiotics—Peirce and Saussure. Each chapter ends with a summary, exercises and discussion points for students, and further reading.

This is the ideal text for introductory courses in semiotics within linguistics, communication studies, visual arts and related areas.

chapter 1|7 pages

Introduction

What is semiotics?

chapter 3|13 pages

Perception and perceiving

chapter 4|8 pages

Affordances

chapter 5|7 pages

Projecting and meaning

chapter 6|14 pages

The stand-for relation—letness

chapter 7|11 pages

Letness and metaphors

part Interlude 1|50 pages

The journey so far: Chapters 1–7

chapter 8|10 pages

The boundary of communication

The reader's position

chapter 9|14 pages

Controlling meaning

chapter 10|9 pages

Controlling meaning?

part Interlude 2|50 pages

The journey continues: Chapters 8–11

chapter 12|5 pages

Communication landscapes

chapter 13|8 pages

The author's position

chapter 14|9 pages

The significance of position

chapter 15|17 pages

Letness, chaos, and communicating

chapter 16|9 pages

Beyond Babel