Language, linguistics

life, biosemiotics…

Kalevi Kull

Ekaterina Velmezova

pp. 1-10

in: Ekaterina Velmezova, Kalevi Kull, Stephen J. Cowley (eds), Biosemiotic perspectives on language and linguistics, Berlin, Springer, 2015

Abstract

Since mostly human modes of action take on a symbolic aspect, and since there are many semiotic (meaning making) systems without any symbolic signs, the application of purely linguistic models in biology is mostly incongruent. However, there exist many common features between human language and other (non-human) sign systems, and even the developed linguistic universe remains internally connected to pre-linguistic expressive forms. Therefore, at least this role of biosemiotic phenomena and processes in the functioning of human language is worth paying attention to, as manifested by the contributions to this volume.