What is semiotics? What does it mean, and how does it work? Semiotics has increasingly gained popularity, and yet, to many, the very term remains an enigma. This is a reference for terms and models used in the semiotic approach. Based on the theory evolved by the Paris School of Semiotics, it combines a wordbook with detailed explanation of theory and practical illustrations. An initial definition of the concept coupled with a brief historical overview of the elaboration of European semiotic theory is followed by a specialized lexicon of its metalanguage. Expressed in lucid terms, the definitions are clarified further by readily understood examples. In the final section of the book, a semiotic analysis of a well-known fairy-tale provides a practical example of the method. It illustrates how semiotic models can be helpful in probing effects on the textual surface and how to integrate them into wider contexts.

Author Biography

Bronwen Martin is a Research Fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London, UK. Felizitas Ringham is a Research Fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London.