John Benjamins Publishing Company
Prolegomena to a general theory of iconicity considerations on language, gesture, and pictures
Abstract
Too often the word “iconicity” is used simply as a scientifically sounding term for similarity. In order to develop a real theory of iconicity, it is not enough, but perhaps a good start, to return to Peirce. In this paper, I use the reconstruction of the notion of iconicity inspired by my work in pictorial semiotics to throw some light on iconicity in language and in gesture. I suggest that there are several possible iconic relationships within the sign, and that these relations may involve properties, proper parts, or perspectives. In particular, I criticize the idea of iconicity being a question of degrees. The article looks at parallels between Lessing’s classic distinction between the resources of language and pictures and contemporary studies of “dual coding” in thinking. It also considers the segmentation of movement in different languages and gesture systems, in particular in relation to Satellite-framed and Verb-framed languages.
Abstract
Too often the word “iconicity” is used simply as a scientifically sounding term for similarity. In order to develop a real theory of iconicity, it is not enough, but perhaps a good start, to return to Peirce. In this paper, I use the reconstruction of the notion of iconicity inspired by my work in pictorial semiotics to throw some light on iconicity in language and in gesture. I suggest that there are several possible iconic relationships within the sign, and that these relations may involve properties, proper parts, or perspectives. In particular, I criticize the idea of iconicity being a question of degrees. The article looks at parallels between Lessing’s classic distinction between the resources of language and pictures and contemporary studies of “dual coding” in thinking. It also considers the segmentation of movement in different languages and gesture systems, in particular in relation to Satellite-framed and Verb-framed languages.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Editors ix
- Introduction: Naturalness and iconicity in language 1
- Philosophical naturalism and linguistic epistemology 25
- Prolegomena to a general theory of iconicity considerations on language, gesture, and pictures 47
- Semiotic foundations of natural linguistics and diagrammatic iconicity 73
- Naturalness and markedness 101
- Natural and unnatural sound patterns: A pocket field guide 121
- The iconic function of full inversion in English 149
- What is iconic about polysemy? A contribution to research on diagrammatic Transparency 167
- Iconicity in sign languages 189
- Arbitrary structure, cognitive grammar, and the partes orationis. A study in Polish paradigms 215
- Name index 241
- Subject index 245
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Editors ix
- Introduction: Naturalness and iconicity in language 1
- Philosophical naturalism and linguistic epistemology 25
- Prolegomena to a general theory of iconicity considerations on language, gesture, and pictures 47
- Semiotic foundations of natural linguistics and diagrammatic iconicity 73
- Naturalness and markedness 101
- Natural and unnatural sound patterns: A pocket field guide 121
- The iconic function of full inversion in English 149
- What is iconic about polysemy? A contribution to research on diagrammatic Transparency 167
- Iconicity in sign languages 189
- Arbitrary structure, cognitive grammar, and the partes orationis. A study in Polish paradigms 215
- Name index 241
- Subject index 245
