University of Tartu, Department of Semiotics : international news in semiotics

10th World Congress of Semiotics

September 22-26 2009. Coruña, Spain

In September 2009, the City of A Coruña and the Autonomous Community of Galicia will host the 10th World Congress of Semiotics, which aims to discuss about the general topic of Culture of Communication, Communication of Culture.

We would like to invite all scholars and researchers to undertake with rigor and critical capacity the natural field of semiotics, i.e. the field of all significant phenomena regarding communication processes. From a semiotic perspective, the main aim is to analyse and interpret all social and cultural phenomena which make up the nowadays communication society.

This important Congress will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of the International Association for Semiotic Studies/Association Internationale de Sémiotique (IASS/AIS), founded in Paris in 1969 by Roman Jakobson, André Martinet, Roland Barthes, Algirdas Julien Greimas and Umberto Eco, among others. In addition, it will turn the city of A Coruña into a great World Forum, not only on the subject of Semiotics, but also on Communication and Culture. 2500 specialists in semiotics are expected to come along with one hundred international scholars and sociologists and a dozen figures of the highest level in this scientific researching field, and all of them have been called up by the International Association for Semiotic Studies (IASS/AIS).

Call for papers and other information

Resemblances in Nature and Culture:

Theoretical and Semiotic Perspectives

8.-9. November 2008. Tartu, Estonia

Organised by
Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu
Jakob von Uexküll Centre (at Estonian Naturalists’ Society)

Resemblances and similarities are often overlooked in research as they are considered to be semiotic primitives. They stand behind various important phenomena in nature and culture, such as species recognition, mimicry and camouflage, convergent evolution, figurative art, imitative magic and theatre performances. All these examples are at the same time instances of communication, and that raises the general question about the place of resemblance in communication and representation. In semiotics, communicative resemblance is expressed in Charles S. Peirce’s concepts of iconic signs and iconicity. In cultural theory, mimesis is used in explanation of the various occasions of resemblances. In biology, homology and analogy, and their relations describe similar phenomena.
It seems that communication by resemblance has important role in the peripheries of semiotic systems, where symbol-based semiotic processes are not so dominant. As examples of this, mimetic strategies in post-colonial cultures (H. K. Bhabha), language plays of children (W. Benjamin) and onomatopoeias in nature writing and folklore can be brought out. In representation, mimetism can also be combined in different ways with symbolic meanings. Communication by resemblance seems to be more effective in crossing semiotic borders between different cultures, discourses and species, as it is apparent for instance in interspecific mimicry and many forms of communication in symbiotic relations. As theoretical concepts, resemblance and its relatives seem to be profitable to the development of zoo- and biosemiotics. Likeness in the form of empathy can also have crucial ethical implications accentuating the relevance of the concept to ecosemiotics and nature philosophy.
To discuss these and many other forms and faces of the resemblance, we call together an international working seminar. Our hope is to create an open academic atmosphere with presentations, discussions and roundtables.
Additional information ..

Contacts:

Dr. Timo Maran
E-mail: timo.maran@ut.ee
Phone: +372 5097266

Ester Võsu
E-mail: ester.vosu@ut.ee
Phone: +372 56632766

Postal address:
Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu.
Tiigi 78
Tartu 50410
Estonia

Seminar is supported by:
Estonian Science Foundation
University of Tartu
Cultural Endowment of Tartu

International conference

Frontiers in Comparative Metrics

November 21-23, 2008, Estonia

The Frontiers in Comparative Metrics conference (in memoriam Mikhail Gasparov) will be held on November 21–22, 2008 in Tallinn and on November 23 in Tartu, Estonia. The organizers of the conference are the Department of the Cultural Theory at the Tallinn University and the Departments of Semiotics and Classical Philology at the University of Tartu. The language of the conference will be English.

Main topics of the conference:

· Theory of versification and comparative studies in metrics and rhythmics
· Frontiers in Indo-European metrics
· Fenno-Ugric metrics
· Classical heritage and contemporary poetic culture
· Semantics of verse

Expected plenary speakers will be:

David Chisholm, University of Arizona
Paul Kiparsky, Stanford University
Mihhail Lotman, Tallinn University, University of Tartu
Gregory Nagy, Harvard University
“Current research on the performance of archaic Greek hexameter”
Seiichi Suzuki, Kansai Gaidai University
“Catalexis and Suspension of Resolution in Eddic Meters”
Marina Tarlinskaja, University of Washington
“Kyd's Canon: Verse Attribution”
Reuven Tsur, Tel Aviv University
“Metricalness and Rhythmicalness. What Our Ear Tells Our Mind”

Preliminary list of speakers:

Maria Akimova, Moscow State University
“Rhythmical forms in Dante's The Divine Comedy”
Andrew S. Becker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
“Lesbium servate pedem: Ictus and Accent in the Sapphics of Horace and Ausonius”
Anastasia Belousova, Lomonosov Moscow State University
“Horace in Russian: Iambic and Logaoedic Translations, and Thematic and Metric Derivations”
Lev Blumenfeld, Carleton University
“On some abstract similarities between Latin and Greek dialogue meters”
Sergej Bolotov, Russian State University for the Humanities
“Three Sides of One Medal: Re-accentuation and Comparative Syllabo-Tonics”
Ulf Cronquist, Gothenburg University
“Versification, Semiotics and Cognition: Perverse and Natural Meaning Production in Leonard Cohen’s ”Hallelujah”
Richard D. Cureton, University of Michigan
“Time and Form”
Albert Davletshin, Russian State University for the Humanities
“The <e> Poetic Vowel in the Polynesian Languages and Polynesian Poetic Traditions”
Stephen Evans, University of Turku
“Metrical Movement in Archaic Greek Poetry”
Kiril Golovastikov, Lomonosov Moscow State University
“The Russian Syllabic Translation of The Divine Comedy: Problems in Metrics”
Peter Groves, Monash University
“A comparative study of the perception of metrical complexity in English”
Satu Grünthal, University of Helsinki
“Between free and bound verse: Ilpo Tiihonen’s poetic language”
Piers Hugill, University of Southampton
“A comparative metrical reading of Browning’s Sordello and ‘Bishop Bloughram’s Apology’ using the method of rhythmical analysis adopted by Henri Meschonnic”
Robert Ibrahim, Charles University
“A Dialogue with Teachers – Miroslav ?ervenka's Contribution to the Formalist-Structuralist Theory of Verse”
Siru Kainulainen, University of Turku
“Rhythm and meaning in Eila Kivikk’aho’s poem
”Minussa vaikenevat taas” (”Silent within me again”)”
Igor Karlovsky, Tallinn
“Evolution of Maksimilian Voloshin's dactylo-trochaic hexameter”
Artem Kozmin, Russian State University for the Humanities
“Syllabic Verse and Vowel Length in Tonga, Hawaiian and Rapanui”
Marina Krasnoperova, Evgeny Kazartsev, St. Petersburg State University
“Reconstructive simulation of versification in the comparative studies of texts in different languages (theoretical aspects and practice of application)
Jörgen Larsson, University College of Borås
“Rhythm and semiotics”
George Levinton, European University at St. Petersburg
“Proto-Slavic epic verse and reconstruction of epic formulas”
Eva Lilja, Gothenburg University
“Some Aspects of Poetic Rhythm”
Maria-Kristiina Lotman, University of Tartu
“The typology of the Estonian hexameter”
Karoliina Lummaa, University of Turku
“Reading non-human life. Rhytm and tone in three Finnish nature poems”
Sergei Lyapin, St. Petersburg
“Poetic language: «uncertainty» as a principle (Faulkner, Musil, Dostoevsky, Pushkin)”
Alexandra Nikolskaya, St. Petersburg State University
“Albanian verse: between syllabics and tonics”
Triinu Ojamaa, Estonian Literary Museum; Jaan Ross, Estonian Academy of Music,University of Tartu
“Some Problems of the Structure and Metre in Nenets Folk songs”
Igor Pilshchikov, Moscow
“Problems in Automatization of Basic Procedures Involved in Rhythmic and Syntactic Analysis of Syllabo-Tonic Texts”
Rein Raud, Tallinn University
“Nushi aru kotoba (“words with owners”) and other modes of authorial presence in waka poetry”
Geoffrey Russom, Brown University
"A comparative study of alliteration in early Irish and English meters."
Mari Sarv, Estonian Literary Museum
“The possible foreign influences of the metrics of the Estonian regisong: language or culture”
Vadim Semenov, University of Tartu
(Title will be specified)
Nicola Scaldaferri, University of Milano
“Rhythmical Analysis of the Arbëresh Oral Poems: Some Consequences on the Study of Arbëresh and Albanian Versification”
Tatyana Skulacheva
"Verse and prose from the linguistic aspect”
Yasuko Suzuki, Kansai Gaidai University
“Metrical structure as a reflection of linguistic structure: A comparative study of Germanic alliterative poetry and Japanese tanka”
Aile Tooming, Tallinn University
“Between hope and desperation: semantics of verse in Uku Masing’s poetry”
Grigori Utgof, Tallinn University
“Skol’ko Stoiat v Londone Galoshi”: Quasi-trochees in Nabokov’s Prose”
Stefano Versace, University of Milan, Strathclyde University
“Eugenio Montale’s Italian “Sprung Rhythm”?”

Estimated time for the speech is 30 minutes (20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for discussion).

Participation fee: 75 EUR. The participation fee should be transferred to the account of the Estonian Semiotics Association (account number: 334409040007 at the Sampo bank, the reference info: FCM 2008, conference fee) by October 1, 2008.

Organizing committee:

Mihhail Lotman
Maria-Kristiina Lotman
Katre Kaju
Annika Kuuse
Aile Tooming

Organizers:
Department of Cultural Theory, Tallinn University
Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu
Estonian Semiotics Association
Department of Classical Philology, University of Tartu

For any further questions, please contact us at maria.lotman@mail.ee

Looking forward to seeing you in Tallinn and Tartu in November 2008!

First newsletter for semioticians: The Monthly Semiograph

July 28, 2008

This is the first semiotic journal on the web combining scientific issues with community practice. As the title suggests, this publication appears once a month; it will reach you in pdf format, sent out by email attachment. Just register for the Semiograph and you will receive this free journal automatically. If you miss one, or if you are new to this site, please visit our archive, where we keep all newsletters and issues for download.

For more active participation, join our forum and enter discussions with semioticians from all around the world. Here is the place to get together!

Nanjing International Symposium on Cultural Semiotics

Second Announcement

November 15-17, 2008

Co-Organizers:

The International Association for Semiotic Studies (IASS)
Jiangsu Association of Philosophy and Social Sciences
Nanjing Normal University (NNU)
International Semiotic Institute, Imatra (ISI)
Chinese Society of Linguistics and Semiotics

Main Subjects:

Theories of Cultural Semiotics
Literary Semiotics
Semiotics of Arts
Linguistic Semiotics

Background:

Cultural semiotics is one of the most advanced fields in social and human sciences today. It also becomes one of the most important theoretical bases for promoting all kinds of comparative studies. For the past 30 years the semiotic studies in China have made certain progress and aroused more and more interest in various universities and institutes.
Nanjing Normal University as one of the leading Chinese universities concerning human sciences has recently established the International Institute of Semiotics Studies for the sake of promoting semiotic science and communication at home and abroad. Then a special delegation of Chinese semiotics participated in the 9th IASS Congress in Finland, headed by Prof. Zhang Jie, the director of the Institute. After a bilateral discussion between the delegation and members of the IASS Bureau an agreement was attained about organizing an international symposium on cultural semiotics this year in Nanjing, a beautiful historic capital of many Chinese dynasties.
We announced the First Call for Papers yet earlier this year. The planned event has aroused further attention of Nanjing Normal University and the Association of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Jiangsu Province. Considering the fact that semiotics is connected to various disciplines the preparation for the symposium has been decided to be strengthened and expanded and a second Call for Paper is presented now. All Chinese and international semiotics scholars and scholars in the Humanities are welcome to join us according to the following explanation. First, please send an abstract of paper (200-300 words, in any IASS official language or in Chinese) with simple personal background to Dr. Ji, the Preparation Office. Please send an abstract of your paper (200-300 words) with a short bionote to Dr. Haihong Ji (iiss@njnu.edu.cn), Executive Secretary. The confirmation will be sent back to the participant after approval later. If you need a special invitation document please contact us too.

Executive Organizers:

School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, NNU
The Nanjing International Institute of Semiotics Studies, NNU

Co-Chairmen:

Prof. Eero Tarasti (President, The International Association for Semiotic Studies; Director, ISI)
Prof. Jin Liao (Vice-President, The Jiangsu Association of Philosophy and Social Sciences)
Prof. Jie Zhang (Dean, School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, NNU; Vice-President, Chinese Society of Linguistics and Semiotics)

Co-Secretaries:

Susan Petrilli (s.petrilli@alice.it)
Bin Xin (xinb5906@yahoo.com.cn)

Executive Secretary:

Haihong Ji (Vice-Director, The International Institute of Semiotic Studies, NNU)
(iiss@njnu.edu.cn or jhh1908@yahoo.com.cn)

Time:

Symposium period: Nov.15-17, 2008
Registration: starting at 2 pm, Nov.14, 2008
Reception: 7pm, Nov. 14, 2008
Sightseeing: 18 Nov. 2008

Location:

School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, NNU
122 Ninghai Road, Nanjing, China

Registration:

From now to July 31, 2008

Symposium fee:

US $200 (including the registration, food, sightseeing payable at the registration desk after arrival

Registration Contact:

Dr.Haihong Ji (iiss@njnu.edu.cn; tel.: 86-13815853939)

Scientific Committee:

Co-Chairmen: Prof. Eero Tarasti, Prof. Jin Liao, Prof. Jie Zhang

Members on international side:

Prof. Roland Posner (Honorary President, IASS; TU Berlin, Germany)
Prof. José M.Paz Gago (Secretary General, IASS; La Coruña, Spain)
Prof. Susan Petrilli (Treasurer, IASS, Bari, Italy)
Prof. Marcel Danesi (Editor-in-chief of Semiotica; Toronto, Canada)
Prof. John Deely (Vice-director, American Society of Semiotic Studies; St.Thomas, USA)
Prof. Richard L.Lanigan (Vice-President, IASS; Southern Illinois, USA)
Prof. Adrian Gimate-Welsh (Vice-President, IASS; Puebla, Mexico)
Prof. Jean-Claude Mbarga (Vice-President, IASS; Yaounde, Cameroun)
Prof. Göran Sonesson (Vice-secretary, IASS; Lund, Sweden)
Dr. Maija Rossi (vice-Director, ISI, Finland)

Members on Chinese side

Prof. Youzheng Li (Vice-President, IASS; Associated Senior Fellow, CASS)
Prof. Zhuanglin Hu (President, Chinese Society of Linguistics and Semiotics; Distinguished Professor, Beijing University)
Prof. Jiyao Ling (College of Arts, South-East University; Jury, Committee of Arts, State Council, China)
Prof. Mingyu Wang (Vice-President, Chinese Society of Linguistics and Semiotics; The Assistant to the President of Heilongjiang University)
Prof. Bin Xin (Secretary general, Chinese Society of Linguistics and semiotics; Director, Institute of Foreign Linguistics and Cultures, NNU)
Prof. Xiaojin Zhu (Dean, College of Human Sciences, NNU)
Prof. Jianhua Guan (Dean, College of Music, NNU)
Prof. Xiangwei Li (Dean, College of Arts, NNU)
Prof. Xiaohong Fang (Dean, College of News and Communication, NNU)
Prof. Jiazu Gu (Vice-President, Chinese Association for Intercultural Communication; College of Languages and Literature, NNU)

The Preparation Committee of Nanjing Symposium 2008