87627 - Theories and Models of Semiotics (1)(LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the basic knowledge of the main epistemological and methodological strands of semiotics as a discipline. They will have the necessary competence and tools to understand the differences between a structural semiotics and an interpretative semiotics, along with the models that have recently overcome this division.

Course contents

The course is an introduction to the main authors, works, and theories of the semiotic tradition. Didactic plan goes through some central authors and works in this tradition. Basic theoretical categories (langue/parole, system/syntagm, expression/content, sign/object/interpretant, icon/index/symbol, dictionary/encyclopaedia, modes of sign production, enunciation, discourse, etc.) and the main problems related to these categories are introduced and explained by reading and criticism of the readings in the bibliography. Each of the five weeks in this course is devoted to an author and to a work or series of works. 1. F. de Saussure (Corso di linguistica generale, 1916); 2. L. Hjelmslev (Fondamenti della teoria del linguaggio, 1943/1961). 3. C.S. Peirce (speculative grammar in the Syllabus, 1903/1933). 4. U. Eco (Semiotica e filosofia del linguaggio, 1984). 5. E. Benveniste (some papers in the theory of enunciation, 1946–1953).

Although it is not mandatory, the course is absolutely recommended to students coming from programs in which semiotics was not relevant, and more generally to anybody needing or wishing to deepen their knowledge of the theoretical foundations. of the discipline.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Ferdinand de Saussure, Corso di linguistica generale, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 1967; solo le seguenti parti: Introduzione: capitoli III e IV; Parte prima: capitoli I e II; Parte seconda: capitoli I, II, III, IV, V, e VI.

2) Louis Hjelmslev, I fondamenti della teoria del linguaggio, Torino: Einaudi, 1968

3) Charles S. Peirce, “Grammatica speculativa”, in Semiotica, a cura di M. Bonfantini et al. Torino: Einaudi, 1980, pp. 119–171 [ripubblicata in Opere, a cura di M. Bonfantini, Milano: Bompiani, 2003, pp. 137–175]

4) Umberto Eco, Semiotica e filosofia del linguaggio, Torino: Einaudi, 1984; solo il cap. 1 “Segno e inferenza”.

5) Émile Benveniste, Problemi di linguistica generale, Milano: Il Saggiatore, 1971; solo i capitoli XVIII “Struttura delle relazioni di persona nel verbo”, pp. 269–282; XIX “Le relazioni di tempo nel vrbo francese”, pp. 283–300; XX “La natura dei pronomi”, pp. 301–309; XXI “La soggettività nel linguaggio”, pp. 310–320; XXII “La filosofia analitica e il linguaggio”, pp. 321–331.

[year refers to the first Italian edition; later editions are also perfectly fine]

NB No difference is made between attending and non-attending students

Teaching methods

Class lectures with reading and critical discussion. Active participation is strongly encouraged.

Assessment methods

Examination is oral. The aim of the exam is to ascertain knowledge of the main semiotic categories and the ability to discuss critically the theoretical, epistemological, and methodological problems that concern these categories.

Vote is assigned according to the following evaluation levels:

30 cum laude: excellent performance showing soundness of knowledge, rich discursive articulation, appropriate expression, interest of critical contribution;

30: Excellent performance, complete, and appropriate knowledge, well-articulated and appropriately expressed, with interesting critical contributions;

29-27: Good performance, more than satisfactory knowledge, correct expression.

26-24: Standard performance, essential knowledge, but not comprehensive and/or not always correctly expressed;

23-21: Sufficient performance, general but superficial knowledge; often inappropriate expression and/or confused articulation of speech;

20-18: Poor performance, sufficient expression and articulation of speech with significant gaps;

<18: Insufficient performance, knowledge absent or very incomplete, lack of orientation in the discipline, poor and seriously flawed expression.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentation

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Bellucci