PLAN :
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Introduction
Biosemiotis
Zoosemiotics
Sebeok conception of what is Semiotics
Modeling sustem theory /
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Primary modeling systems
Secondary modeling systems
Tertiary modeling systms
The questions of living entities in semiotics
Conclusion
Presented by Fellah Lynda
Biosemiotics
Thomas Sebeok is one of the figures who made a great
contribution to the foundation of the field of semiotics and he studied “
biosemiotics “ which he called ‘Semiotics or life‘ or the study of semiosis
in animals and as he stated in his book (2001) , ‘global semiotics‘ . He
affected by the works of Charles S. Pierce , Roman Jakobson and Morris.
Sebeok was affected by the’ Meaning of Meaning‘ (1923) that is
introduced by Charles K .Ogden and Ivor Richards and he benefited a lot
from their study of semiotics . The semiotics of Thomas Sebeok is
developed as a ‘globally semiotics ‘ which claims that signs and life
coincide with each other and can be not separated and semiosis is a
behavior among living beings . Sebeok ‘s‘ global Semiotics ‘ spread the
whole universe . According to him semiotics is the field or the ground in
which the ’ sign of sciences ‘ and ‘ life sciences ‘ meet or converge , this
means that, they connect with each other . As a consequence the human
being is considered a sign in a global of signs (Sebeok , 2001) .
Global
Semiotics
Life
Science
Sign
Science
Figure 1 : According to Sebeok global semiotics is the convergence
of sign sciences and life sciences,
The science of sign or study of sign
 Sebeok has broaden the traditional semiotics and
developed an approach to the study of sign that extended
semiology. The science of sign introduced by Ferdinand de
Saussure emphasized only on human sign. But de did not
account for the non human signs .Semiology for Sebeok, is
called the minor tradition, whereas, the semiotics that is
presented by John Lock and Charles S. pierce is called the
major tradition .
 Sebeok’s approach to life of sign’s is global or holistic and is
be associated with his contribution of the signs of life. He
viewed that life and semiosis coincide or converge. And
semiosis is the criterial attribute of life. (Sebeok , 1978)
The science of sign or study of sign
Semiology emphasized
on human sign
Semiotics based on
human and non-human
sign
Minor tradition
Major tradition
Saussure
Charles.S.
Peirce. John Lock…
Figure 2 : The distinction of semiology and semiotics according to Sebeok.
According to Sebeok, global semiotics, as he stated, is meeting
point or connection and an observation post for studies on the signs of life
and life of signs. He explored the science or doctrine of signs and
investigated the field to include zoosemiotics ( a term introduced I, 1963),
bio semiotics and endosemiotics.
Sebeok in his study of sign, extended the socio-cultural life and
according to him semiotics should be more then this, before sign study was
only concentrated in the semiology of signification and communication, as
introduced by Saussure (1916: 26) but later, semiotics is anthroposemiotics,
zoosemiotics, play to semiotics, environmental semiotics, machine
semiotics, myco-semiotics, mircosemiotics and endosemiotics and all these
of which derived of biosemitics or just semiotics.
Semiotics
Semiology
Anthroposemiotics
Zoosemiotics
Communication
Signification
Phytosemiotics
Figure 3 : Sebeok extended the socio-cultural life,
Environmental
Semiotics
Mycosemiotics
Biology and social sciences, linguistics psychology ethology,
health sciences, medical semiotics, psycho analysis, gerontology find then
somces from semiotics
Biology
Gerontology
Social Science
Psychoanalysis
linguistics
Semiotics
Medical
semiotics
Psychology
Health
Science
Ethology
Figure 4 : Sebeok assumes that semiotics is the central source of the sciences mentioned
The central concept in global semiotics is modeling that provide explanation and illustration to life and
behavior among living entities in terms of semiosis. Global semiotics or what is called the semiotics of life
develops modeling systems theory. The notion of modeling is of a principal importance in semiotics
exploration of Sebeok. It is meant language( primary modeling systems) besides human cultural systems
that is ref referred to as secondary model is system. Sebeok’s expansion of the idea or motion of modeling
is going beyond the field or the circle of anthroposemiotics, which interpreted as an outside world model.
He asserts that the modeling capacity can be observed in all aspects or forms of life.( SebeoK 1991 and
1994).
The methodological from work that been presented in the field of biosemiotics is modeling system theory
as formulated by Sebeok in his work on the convergence of semiotics and biology, is needed in the study
modeling behavior in and across all forms of life. This modeling systems’ theory provides analysis on
semiotic phenomenon in terms of modeling processes (Sebeok and Dansei 2001-43).
In semiotis’s modeling systems theory semiosis is defined as the capacity of a species to produce and
comprehend the specific types of modes it requires for processing and codifying perceptual imput in its
oun way( Sebeok and Dansei 2000:5)
There are three types of systems theory which are, according to Sebeok, the primary, secondary and
tertiary modeling systems. The first one is, which is the primary modeling system is the innate capacity for
simulative modeling, that is to say, is a system that permits organisms to simulate something in species.
It presupposes language as conceived primary modeling system that is distinguished from speech that is a
human second modeling system . Which, the tertiary modeling system tend to be highly abstract,
something not concrete which is the human cultural systems. The applied study of modeling systems
theory is called systems analysis (Sebeok , 2001).
Primary modeling system ; the
innate capacity for simulative
modelling i - e natural language.
Types of modelling system
theory
Secondary modelling system ; the
human cultural system.
Tertiary modelling system is
something abstract
Figure 5 : Types of modelling system theory according to Sebeok.
2- the questions of living entities implied in semiosis:
In his article the evolution of semiosis, Sebeok raises a question of what is semiosis?
In order to answer the question Sebeok adopted Pierce view of semiosis or action of sign that is a
triadic process between the representamen (sign) , object and interpretant but Peirce emphases
more on the production of interpretant or the sign’s interpretation or effect.
(CP.473). According to Peirce, all signs require at least two quasi-minds ; a quasiutterer and quasi-interpreter (CP.551). What Sebeok added is that the interpreter, mind or quasi
mind is also a sign’ (1994 b: 14),
Sebeok argues that an interpretant: an interpreter is a responsive somebody taking
into consideration the citation from Morris 1946who says that semiosis as a process in which
something is a sign to some organism, Sebeok agrees that in this definition a living entity is part
in the process of semiosis. In other words, semiosis appeared with the life’s evolution. According
to Sebeok’s global semiotics, the living entity in semiosics may be a cell or a portion of a cell
Sebeok, in the evolution of semiosis, begins to study the question of the cosmos before
questioning about semiosis. He refers to 3,900 to 2,500 million years ago when in which there
only physical phenomena, that is the interactions of non-biological atoms. This interaction are
called quasi- semiotic’ which is distinct from Protosemitic’ . Sebeok viewed semiosis implies life
and states that non-biological interactions is primitive communication and there is not a single
instance of life outside terrestrial biosphere. The central notion in Sebeok’s research is that life
and semiosis coincide and semiosis is then terrestrial from the inanimate entities. Thus, for
Sebeok sign processes and animate raised togather with the evolution of life. (Sebeok , 1997)
Semiotics
Animate
entities
Biological
interactions
Life
Figure 6 : Illustrates the evolution of semiosis as it is introduced by sebeok
Non-biological
Interactions
No Life
Inanimate
Entities
Figure 7 : Sebeok states that life and semiosis coincide.
3-Biosemiotics’s extension is sebeok’s work
 The coincidence of semiosis and life changed the way in which
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semiotics as early perceived Seabed conceives semiotics as a like
science, as biosemiotics.
Semiotic universe of seabed compasses the following:
The life of signs and the signs of life as that is now days called
biological sciences.
The signs of animal like and relationship of organisms in the me
environment
Human verbal and nom verbal signs, the former compose signs
like natural languages , the latter implies the signs like natural
languages such as gestures child’s signs, human body signs
Signs at all levels of intentional and unconscious like(Sebeok ,
1992).
Zoosemiotics
Many semioticians assume that only people make
use of signs and only man is a semiotic creatures. The
idea challenged by Thomas Sebeok who supposes that
animal communication is also focused on signs and he
suggests the notion zoosemiotics that studies
the
animal semiosis ( Sebeok 1968, 1972 ) . Sebeok assumes
that he got the important experimentation clues from
Jakob Von Uexkul ( 1864, 1944 ) . The latter convinced
Sebeok and provided him with evidence of semiosis in
the animal world .
ZOOSEMIOTICS
Sebeok claims that animal communication is also focused on signs and
suggests that the notions of Zoobiotics that studies the animal semiosis
(sebeok 1968-1972). Sebeok replaced the term Zoosemiotics with Biosemiotics.
JAKOB VON UEXKUL
(1864-1972) experimental clues
Evidence of semiosis in animal
world
Sebeok conviction of animal
communication
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Modeling is crucial concept used in global semiotics which explains
life and behavior among the living organisms.
It makes the foundation of communication (Sebeok 1991).
It goes beyond the circles of anthroposemiotics.
It is interpreted an outside world model that deals with sign sciences
without referring to the physical world.
Its capacity can be observed in all aspects of life (Sebeok, Dansei :
2000-5).
It provides explanation and illustration to life and behavior among
living objects in terms of semiosis.
It is the ability of production of forms to present objects, actions,
simotions, events and ideas conceived to have meaning, purpose
function or goal.
The Modeling Systems Theory
The methodological framework that has been presented in the field of biosemiotics is the modeling system theory as
formulated by Sebeok in his work on the convergence of biology and semiotics is needed in the study of modeling
behavior in across all forms of life . Modeling is crucial concept used in global semiotics which explains life and behavior
among the living organisms . It makes the foundation of communication ( Sebeok 1991) . Sebeok ’s expansion of the
idea or the notion of modeling is going beyong the circles of anthroposemiotics that is interpreted an ‘ outside world
model ‘ that deals with sign sciences without referring to the physical world but studying the semiotics from the
psychological perspective .He asserts that the modeling capacity can be observed in all aspects or forms of life ( Sebeok
1991 b : 49-59 , 68 – 82 and 1991 : 117-127 ) . This modeling systems theory provides analysis on the semiotic phenomenon
( Sebeok , Dansei : 2000-5 ) . The central concept in ‘ Global semiotics ‘ is’ modeling’ , which is came from the word
model which is adapted from Umvelt , modeling provides explanation and illustration to life and behavior among living
objects in terms of semiosis . Global semiotics or what is called ‘ the semiotics of life ‘ develops modeling systems theory
. According to Sebeok , modeling is the ability of production of forms to present objects , actions, situations, events and
ideas conceived to have meaning ,purpose , function or goal .
The notion of modeling is of a principal importance in semiotic exploration of Sebeok. There are three kinds of modeling
systems theory which are the primary , secondary and tertiary modeling systems . The first type is the primary
modeling system which is the innate capacity for stimulative modeling , in other words, is a system that permits the
organisms to stimulate something in the species that is the communication . It presupposes natural language
concieved as the primary modeling system. It is an instinctive ability to model the sensitive features i-e properties that
can be percieved or sensed . It is the species – specific biological apparatus . It is meant natural language .Language refers
to an ideological relationship with some other systems , collectivity ,a computer etc where its reflection acts as a control
of this system ‘s total mode of communication ( Sebeok 1987, 2) . The second kind of modeling systems theory which is
called the secondary modeling systems that is referred to as speech or the capacity for speech , which is the
human secondary modeling system or the individual organism ‘ s interests which govern its cognitive map that is
specified more on human ,which means a system that permits for the extension and the indication of forms (
Sebeok, Dansei 2000: 82-95) .
The third type is the tertiary modeling system that is related to
the world of culture or socio-cultural life that determines ways of communication among human species .
is that the interpreter , mind or quasi mind is also a sign ( 1994b : 14 ) .Sebeok assumes that an interprtant ;an interpreter
is a responsive somebody . Taking into consideration the citation from Morris as ‘ a process in which something is a sign
to some organism ‘ , Sebeok argues that in this definition a living entity takes part in the process of semiosis . In other
words , semiosis involves with the life ‘s evolution . According to Sebeok ‘s global semiotics , the living entity in semiosis
may be a cell or a portion of a cell . Sebeok , in ‘the evolution of Semiosis , begins to study the question of the cosmos
before questioning about semiosis .
Types of modeling systems theory such as the primary, secondary and tertiary
modeling systems according to Sebeok
The modeling systems is the methodological
framework in the field of biosemiotics
The primary modeling system which is the innate
capacity for simulative modeling. It is a system of
communication wgich is the language and it is an
instinctive ability
The secondary modeling system that is referred to
as speech or capacity for speech which is the
human secondary modeling system or individual
organism’s interests which govern its cognitive map.
The third type is the tertiary modeling system that
is related to the world of culture or socio-cultural
life.
References
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