Abstract
The application of linguistic, or, more generally, of semiotic concepts and methods, in the realm of cultural research is today in vogue. Such applications are sometimes referred to as ‘the semiotic theory of culture’, especially when they encompass the broader domain of human behaviour and its products. What are the advantages which the followers of the semiotic approach hope to gain by the transference of linguistic concepts and methods to the realm of cultural phenomena? Linguistics is the most advanced and precise of all the humanistic disciplines—or so the practitioners of semiotics say—and the transference will make it possible to achieve in the field of cultural research results as fruitful as those gained in linguistics. However, the subject matter of linguistics is languages, i.e. certain systems of signs. Therefore—the argument continues—in order to be able to apply linguistic concepts in cultural research, we have to extend the existing usage of the concept ‘sign’ in such a way, as to subsume under it all or nearly all cultural phenomena.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1980 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pawlowski, T. (1980). Semiotic Theory of Culture. In: Concept Formation in the Humanities and the Social Sciences. Synthese Library, vol 144. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9019-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9019-7_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-9021-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-9019-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive