Semiotics

Dynamic and pragmatic aspects of communication and sign use

René Thom
René Thom (1923–2002)

Dynamic Semiotics considers the forces, which stabilize or change the sign relation. i.e. the relation between sign body and its object (and the mind of the user, the society for which the relation is valid). Such processes can occur on different time and space scales. The time scale reaches from cosmological to evolutionary processes, historical to biographical developments and it concerns the microdynamics of language use and brain dynamics in language understanding and production. The spatial scale may consider the communication with extraterrestrial intelligent beings, global sign communication, communication inside nations, social groups, reflective self-consciousness and sign transmission in the body. A third (not strictly linear) dimension is given by the media of sign transfer, i.e. the material substance of signs and the perceptual and motor means of sign-reception/production: visual signs (light), acoustic signs (air, water,…), olfactory, tactile, gustatory, … signs. Visual signs may be manifested on the human body, its motions, via mimics, gestures, on external surfaces (painting) , in sculpture, architecture or urban structures, landscapes etc. Similar options occur with other types of perceptually based signs. Finally, sign-use is always embedded in social and cultural contexts and coevolves with them.