Sign Systems Studies

Front Matter

2026-01-15T18:57:53+00:00

Front Matter

A semiology: Problems and routes

2026-01-15T19:01:54+00:00

A semiology: Problems and routes

An introduction to and commentary on Luis J. Prieto’s “A semiology: Problems and routes”

2026-01-15T19:05:58+00:00

The following notes are a commentary on Luis J. Prieto’s text “A semiology: Problems and routes”, an English translation of “Une sémiologie: problems et parcours”. The notes begin by introducing the different versions under which “A semiology…” was originally published, and then explain some problems faced when working on the English translation. After that, the introduction provides a historical and theoretical contextualization of the original text, focusing on Prieto’s disagreement with Cesare Luporini’s views on (scientific) knowledge from a materialist (Marxist-Leninist) perspective. The notes then move on to Prieto’s own theory and examine the interrelations between knowledge, practice and subjectivity as they are treated in “A semiology…” and in related texts written by Prieto around the same time. Finally, the notes close with a brief observation of how Prieto’s theory could be developed and what its shortcomings are, especially regarding contemporary semiotic theory.

(Re)conceptualizing translation as a dynamic dialogue of constraints

2026-01-15T19:14:30+00:00

The intersection between translation studies and semiotics has been addressed in numerous publications and approaches to researching translation. However, at least within translation studies, this intersection has been visible mainly in cases in which non-linguistic signs come into play, whereas genuine semiotic frameworks have proven to be too broad or abstract. This has led to a conceptual and ontological paradox: on the one hand, translation scholars have been struggling to move beyond linguistics, but, on the other hand, most of them still place a strong emphasis on lingual translation. As a result, ‘translation’ is no longer a precise term broad enough to include contemporary types of this activity. This paper is a proposal made to reconceptualize translation as a dynamic process of dialogue between relevant constraints. Situated between translation semiotics and translation studies, the theoretical model described here underlines the role of constraints as well as the universal semiotic nature of translation.

Dumb intelligence? Translation as technological mediation

2026-01-15T19:22:28+00:00

We propose a semiotic approach to understanding and assessing language technologies. Specifically, by adopting a recent semiotic and broad concept of translation, developed by Kobus Marais, we bring semiotic theory into the service of philosophy of technology. Our perspective reveals that commonly assumed expectations about language generative technologies are mistaken and misleading when shaped through an ideal of engineering humanlike interlocutors, which we illustrate with examples. We find that (software) engineering pursues this ideal, which, fuelled by classical humanism, assumes that language is an anthropic marker. By explaining (technological) emergence as a semiosic process, we develop a robust underpinning for the Mind–Technology Thesis, namely refuting mind-and-matter substance dualism through an evolutionist perspective that construes technology as mind-work. In this vein, semiotics corroborates with externalist theories of mind and postphenomenology in understanding mind and technology as mutually intrinsic. This leads to a semiotics-grounded advocacy of the view in philosophy of technology, championed by Elena Esposito, that for artefacts properly to communicate with biological organisms, they do not require “intelligence”.

Vis-à-vis: Signification does not necessitate backward causation

2026-01-15T19:27:47+00:00

The following paper examines the metaphysics of signification in John Deely’s work and presents two arguments: (1) that Deely’s metaphysics sanction backwards causation in signification, and (2) that there may be a more parsimonious view that can be defended. The paper briefly examines the background of Peirce’s metaphysics and then addresses his specific notion of semiotic causality, including the relevance of the vis a prospecto in his work. I will argue, however, that in accounting for signification, appealing to past states changed by future states can only be done in a weak, epistemological manner, as opposed to what I see as a modal view in Deely. As Deely’s metaphysics has profoundly influenced the philosophical discourse of current semiotics, it is important to assess the ontological commitments made in order for signification to take place. His account of semiotic causality as a teleological phenomenon may offer a powerful explanatory framework for how signification takes place (and with it, how signs come to be), but its consequences may result in counterintuitive ways of thinking about meaning-making. I offer a positive deflationary account of how to preserve a weaker sense of semiotic causality to avoid the risks posed by the vis a prospecto in Deely’s proposal.

Affective semiosis and perceptual semiosis: A semiotic psychoanalytic field theory grounded on Matte Blanco

2026-01-15T19:35:07+00:00

Starting from critical points of the research agenda on emotions, this paper aims to present and discuss a dynamic field model of the interaction between affective semiosis and perceptual semiosis. Conceptually, the model is grounded in the epistemological contribution of Ignacio Matte Blanco’s psychoanalytic theory, which formalizes two kinds of logic at the foundation of human experience: asymmetrical (the basis of the activity of conscious rational thought and functioning through distinction and separation processes) and symmetrical (the basis of unconscious processes, aimed at homogenization and generalization). Accordingly, affective semiosis is characterized by a predominance of symmetrizing and generalizing modalities, tending to homogenize differences and render all stimuli indistinct and undifferentiated according to a function of pertinentization (i.e. by the definition of a ground – à la Peirce). This ground offers a temporary stability to discretize the elements of experience. Conversely, perceptive semiosis focuses on discretization and identification, operating through the recognition of differences within the pertinentized field. Perceptual semiosis, which seeks to identify differences, can only function if a background serving as an element of continuity remains stable. Finally, the study explores specific dynamics that illustrate the necessary intertwining of affective and perceptual semiosis through the application of non-linear descriptive models, characterized by oscillatory and complementary trends.

Toward a biosemiotics framework for AI: Folding and the dynamics of meaning

2026-01-15T19:39:51+00:00

This paper is dedicated to the intersections between folding and semiotics, serving as a meta-commentary on Howard Pattee’s “Symbol grounding precedes interpretation” (2021), a response to Terrence Deacon’s work, that was further elaborated in 2023. Framed within a context of recursive self-reflection, the paper scrutinizes folding as a fundamental semiotic activity and elementary semiotic modelling, drawing connections to Pattee’s proposition regarding protein folding as a precursor to semiosis and interpretation. Central to this discourse is the assertion that folding serves not only as a foundational prerequisite for semiosis but also as a potent modelling system. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the paper elucidates how folding manifests as a modelling mechanism across diverse domains from biology to syntax. Notably, the paper proposes an application of folding principles in AI. By navigating the framework of folding as semiotic modelling, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the foundational mechanisms of signification and interpretation in semiotic systems.

On semiotics of monument removal: Hypersecuritization as a deproblematization strategy in the Baltics

2026-01-15T19:43:11+00:00

History interpretations have long shaped national identities, yet they also serve to legitimize (geo)political agendas and deepen societal divisions. This article investigates the cases of Estonia and Latvia, where Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has rekindled contestations over Soviet-era symbols (monuments, symbolic decoration, etc.) in public spaces. Through a semiotic analysis of the removal of Soviet, or so-called “red” monuments, we explore the discursive mechanisms of re-signification and the dominant meanings that emerge. Central to our inquiry is how the replacement or transformation of these monuments interacts with political contexts – particularly how such changes resonate with diverse audiences and redefine symbolic functions of these monuments. We analyse political statements both supporting and opposing the dismantling of Soviet monuments, focusing on how national security has been mobilized as a central legitimizing discourse in 2022. Drawing on the Copenhagen School’s securitization theory, we incorporate insights from cultural semiotics and semiotic cultural psychology, emphasizing the affective dimensions that drive re-signification and hypersecuritization. Finally, by employing the concept of deproblematization, we examine how these affective strategies serve political ends, which allows us to uncover the political aims embedded within these securitization discourses, as well as the semiotic mechanisms of meaning-making through which these discourses were constructed.

Between imagination and reality: A complementary approach to “Harbin note” through diaspoetics and cultural semiotics

2026-01-15T19:47:27+00:00

In the study of Russian émigré literature, an inherent Russian-centric perspective persists. Diaspoetics, with its meta-critical attributes, offers a means effectively to address this limitation. Central to its focus are the concepts of ‘imagination’ and ‘reality’ in diaspora identity. Across its developmental stages, diaspoetics alternately emphasizes objective identity definition and subjective identity construction, each approach presenting distinct strengths and weaknesses. However, from the perspective of Juri Lotman’s cultural semiotics, culture as a selfconscious individuality inherently unites subject and object. The tension between ‘imagination’ and ‘reality’ finds resolution in the literary creation of the metaphor “Harbin note”, which emerges from the unique diasporic space of Harbin. Consequently, within the interplay of the mythological geographies of “East” and “West”, the identity of the diaspora community simultaneously embodies opposition and achieves unity.

Fluid meanings: A semiotic analysis of water in Persian gardens

2026-01-15T19:50:13+00:00

This study investigates the semiotic significance of water in Persian garden landscapes, revealing its cultural, spiritual, and religious roots. Drawing on Louis Hjelmslev’s theories and employing a semiotic model for landscape study, the paper conducts a holistic analysis of water’s physical and semantic dimensions in these gardens. The research adopts a triadic approach, starting with an examination of the form-to-substance ratio at the expression level to interpret the gardens’ physical and visual features. The article explores the connection between these features and the gardens’ cultural context and, finally, links structural concepts to broader societal ideologies. Qualitative content analysis of case studies, including Fin Garden and Dolatabad Garden, exposes the multifaceted meanings of water elements, from their geometric organization to their socio-cultural and ideological resonance. The findings disclose a triadic meaning system where water acts as a unifying symbol, reflecting Iranian societal values and enhancing the gardens’ lasting appeal. This study not only contributes to the semiotic discourse by applying Hjelmslev’s theories to the specific context of Iranian gardens but also enriches the understanding of cultural heritage and landscape design.

To break free without breaking off: Questioning the coherence of language systems. A conversation with John Joseph

2026-01-15T19:53:18+00:00

The following interview with John Joseph, a linguist specializing in the history of linguistics, applied linguistics, and the relationships between language and identity, is divided into two parts. The first part presents a small overview of Joseph’s academic trajectory, emphasizing the struggles faced by emerging fields in the linguistics of the 1980s (e.g. language standardization and history of linguistics itself), and then deals with the problems of doing history of linguistics, including questions of the methodology and epistemology of historical approaches. The second part of the interview touches upon the relationships between the history of linguistics and semiotics, the relationships between linguistics and culture, and the problems of subjectivity in linguistics and semiotics. The interview concludes with a small comment on relevant questions linguistics faces when it comes to the role of academics in helping to solve pressing social issues.

Technological futures in semiotics: The year 2024 in review

2026-01-15T19:55:39+00:00

Technological futures in semiotics: The year 2024 in review

Vilmos Voigt, folklorist and semiotician (1940–2025)

2026-01-15T19:59:20+00:00

Vilmos Voigt, folklorist and semiotician (1940–2025)