Into Semiotics: Understanding Signs, Meaning, and Communication
This is an introduction to the study of signs for students and readers with no previous background in the field. After tracing the history of semiotics from its ancient roots to the contemporary world, it presents the two foundational models of the sign developed by Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Peirce. The book explains how signs are organized into codes and used in communication. It then surveys the main ideas in contemporary semiotic approaches to human culture, from narratives and visual representations to social, cognitive, and digital sign systems. The book closes with an exploration of semiosis beyond the human, in animals, living cells, plants, ecosystems, machines, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Written in clear and accessible language, the book draws many of its examples from Thai and Southeast Asian contexts, alongside other cultures and languages. Each chapter includes suggestions for further reading. The book is complemented by a glossary of key terms and a free online companion guide with exercises and learning activities for every chapter.