To Ellice (Semiotic def. of lg.)

Francoise Herrmann (fherrmann who-is-at igc.apc.org)
Wed, 11 Oct 1995 19:35:29 -0700

Hi Ellice, Yes, a semiotic definition of language (and shhhhhhh, quite
an unpopular one at that currently), Saussure's definition, where
parole is even more problematic than speech, but a really terrific
definition (inclusive of cognition- the signified and tool, the signifier).
The original postulation is with oral speech as signifier, but there have
been so many extrapolations. The diagram that expresses that ( a circle
divided in half) has stayed with me ever since my highschool philosophy
teacher gave me the book and told me to "go home". It wasn't required
reading or even on the program, but I remember thinking two things:
"Why didn't anyone tell me this before? (that this was language) and
"I wanna to be a linguist" (and work at NASA to send message to alien
life forms!)... That was a long time ago though. And the theory is
incomplete on many counts, but still a great peg. As for sending messages
to aliens, well I wonder sometimes.

Francoise
Francoise Herrmann
fherrmann who-is-at igc.org