Semiotics and cognitive science
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This growth and
diversification of the field of writing research parallels similar tendencies
in the broader and more general fields of semiotic and cognitive studies over
the last thirty years or so. Semioticians have traditionally concentrated
their energies on examining processes of meaning-making through the exchange
and interpretation of signs Ð an
interdisciplinary and generic term which today in practice is generally taken
to mean various forms of texts and/ or utterances, construed as situated acts
of communication Ð as they function in a broad range of socio-cultural
contexts. Cognitive scientists, on the other hand, have tended to concern
themselves with attempting to understand, through structured empirical forms
of research, the relationship between observable, quantifiable aspects of
cognition processes Ð which in practice means different forms of behaviour Ð
and their biological and neuro-physiological correlates. In both the
above-mentioned fields, issues relating to aspects of multimodality in
communication have been brought more and more to the fore in recent years. |
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Although
sometimes seeming to differ quite radically in their basic epistemologies and
methodological approaches, and thus still considered by some scholars and
scientists as separate, and even incommensurable, fields of inquiry, there is
something fundamental which both these domains of research share. This common
ground is a deep and passionate belief in the necessity and productivity of
transdisciplinary forms of communication, cooperation and understanding in
scientific research. As time goes on, it is becoming increasingly clear Ð not
least thanks to the continuing efforts of the San Marino Centre in promoting
constructive forms of dialogue between semioticians and cognitive scientists
Ð that vast domains of overlap and common interest do indeed exist across the boundaries of these two
domains. This growing sense of scientific fellowship and community in the
general area of semiotic and cognitive studies is beginning to create and exciting
sense of continuity across the two domains, traversing and transgressing any
form of postulated ÔdivideÕ between them. Those differences in perspective
and methodology that do exist merely make for lively and constructive
dialogue and healthy controversy. As Marcello Dascal has repeatedly reminded
us, truly excellent science cannot develop and spread without healthy forms
of controversy, and the discourse dynamic in the zone of proximal development
between cognitive and semiotically oriented forms of inquiry provides just
such an area of growth. |
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As its name
implies, the International Centre for Semiotic and Cognitive Studies seeks to promote constructive forms of synergy in
the zone of proximal development between these two highly complex fields. The
Semiotics of Writing gave people a chance to meet, present, compare and
critically discuss their respective ideas, perspectives and approaches. From
this small beginning, new forms of interdisciplinary cooperation and
understanding have hopefully already begun to grow. |
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