ABSTRACT
A text is a pattern of signs to be interpreted. A dialogue in a movie, a confession in church, a love letter, a conversation with a psychotherapist, a novel, or even DNA—all are texts to be interpreted. In this context, the question “What does it mean?” is a foundational one with regard to our understanding of various texts. This chapter presents the theoretical foundations for determining the meaning of a text. Its main thesis is that a text does not stand for a simple object or for a referential situation only (e.g., describing a scenic view) but provides a context for a response, hence a context for anticipation and meaning-making.
