Quantitative semiotic analysis : [Textes en partie issus de la journée d'étude du 5 février 2016 "Méthodes quantitatives dans la recherche sémiotique" à l'Institut des sciences de la communication à Paris

Annotation This contributed volume gives access to semiotic researches adopting a quantitative stance. European semiotics is traditionally based on immanent methodologies: meaning is seen as an autonomous dimension of human existence, whose laws can be investigated via purely qualitative analytical and reflexive analysis. Today, researches crossing disciplinary boundaries reveal the limitations of such an homogeneous practice. In particular, two families of quantitative research strategies can be identified. On the one hand, researchers wish to naturalize meaning, by making semiotic results interact with those coming from Neurophysiological and psychological sciences. On the other hand, statistical and computational tools are adopted to work on linguistic and multimedia corpora. The book acts to put the two approaches into dialogue Acknowledgements 6 Contents 7 Editor and Contributors 9 1 Introduction 10 1.1 Entering the ‘Third World’: A Glance Backwards 10 1.1.1 The Limits of Qualitative Analysis 12 1.1.2 The Subject of Semiotic Analysis 14 1.2 Quantitative Research Strategies in Semiotic Analysis 16 1.2.1 Empirical Validation of Qualitative Analyses 17 1.2.2 Mathematical and Experimental Validation of Models and Hypotheses 18 1.2.2.1 Jean Petitot and the Naturalization of Meaning 18 1.2.2.2 Alessandro Sarti and the Neurological Validity of Semiotic Models 22 1.2.3 Instrumented Analysis of Texts and Corpora 25 1.2.3.1 François Rastier’s Definition of an Autonomous Empirical Dimension Proper to Semiotics 25 1.2.3.2 Franco Moretti’s Distant Reading 28 1.2.3.3 Lev Manovich’s Cultural Analytics 31 1.3 Quantifying Meaningfulness 32 1.3.1 Beyond Immanence: Mathematical and Experimental Validation 33 1.3.2 Within Immanence: Instrumented Analysis of Texts and Corpora 35 References 36 Beyond Immanence—Mathematical and Experimental Research 39 2 The Formalization of Elementary Semiotic Structures 40 2.1 Introduction 40 2.2 Elementary Structures as ‘Intelligent Equations’ 41 2.2.1 Conflicts and Bifurcations 41 2.2.2 Elements and Interactions 45 2.2.3 Universal Unfoldings: Towards a Solution to the Problem of Solutions 47 2.3 Elementary Structures as Schemas 49 2.3.1 Semiotic Square and the Hysteresis Cycle 49 2.3.2 The Paths in the External Space as ‘Solutions’ 50 2.3.3 Making the Schema More Complex 51 2.3.4 Variants and Homotopy Classes 54 2.4 Semantic Paradigms and Actantial Syntax 54 2.4.1 Externalization and Internalization: Slow and Fast Systems 54 2.4.2 The Integrated Semantic–Syntactic Schemas and the Problem of Conversion 55 2.5 Claude Lévi-Strauss’ Canonical Formula of Myth 58 2.6 Further Developments and Openings 58 Bibliography 59 3 Neuromorphology of Meaning 62 3.1 Introduction 62 3.2 Receptive Profiles in the Sensory Cortices 64 3.3 Geometric Models of Receptive Profiles 66 3.4 Models of Receptive Profiles as Learned Morphologies 68 3.5 Conditioning in the Sensory Cortices 71 3.6 Models of Conditioned RPs 72 3.7 Conditioning and Symbolic Function 74 3.8 Still on Models 76 Bibliography 78 4 Semiotics and Sensory Sciences: Meaning Between Texts and Numbers 82 4.1 Sensory Sciences: An Overview 82 4.2 Describing Products: Which Words and Which Meaning? 84 4.2.1 Descriptive Analysis. When the Description Is Based on a Training Stage 84 4.2.2 Say It in Your Own Words: Understanding Consumer Perceptions 87 4.2.2.1 The Repertory Grid Method 88 4.2.2.2 The Free Sorting Task 89 4.3 The EmoSemio Approach: Semiotics Applied to the Development of Product-Specific Questionnaires 91 4.4 Open-ended questions: A challenge for research 97 4.5 Conclusions 102 References 103 5 Images as Utterances and as Multimodal Perceptual Experiences 108 5.1 Introduction 108 5.2 Images as Utterances 110 5.2.1 The Structure of Images 110 5.2.2 The Functions of the Scientific Image 113 5.3 Image Study Using an Instrumented Device 114 5.3.1 Image Coherence 115 5.3.2 Image Cohesion 117 5.4 Images and Their Readers 123 5.4.1 Readers and Interpretation 123 5.4.2 Experiencing Images 125 5.5 Conclusion 126 Bibliography 127 Within Immanence—Instrumented Analysis of Texts and Corpora 128 6 Computer-Assisted Interpretation of Semiotic Corpora 129 6.1 Introduction 129 6.2 Some Epistemological Challenges 130 6.3 On the Concept of Corpora 132 6.4 Redefining the Concept of a Sign System 135 6.5 For a Non-antinomic Conception of the Duality Between Instances and Performances 137 6.6 Semiotics of Performances 139 6.7 Quantity and Quality in Corpus Semiotics 140 6.8 Consequences for Semiotic Theory 142 References 144 7 Elements of a Corpus Semantics for Humanities. Application to the Classification of Subjective Texts 146 7.1 Introduction 146 7.1.1 Dematerialisation and Immateriality of Documents 146 7.1.2 Linguistics as a Pivotal Science of Digital Humanities 147 7.1.3 Purpose of This Article 147 7.2 Implementation of a Corpus Semantics 148 7.2.1 Semantics and Natural Language Processing 148 7.2.2 Towards a Corpus Semantics: Textometrics and Text Semantics 149 7.2.3 Synthesis 150 7.3 Element of Methodology for Corpus Semantics 150 7.3.1 The Agonist Described as a Structured Cluster of Semantic Features 150 7.3.2 Method for Producing Categorisation Criteria with Textometrics 151 7.3.3 Supervised Learning for Evaluating Criteria 151 7.4 Study: Detecting Euphoric and Dysphoric Agonists in a Corpus of Egodocuments 152 7.5 Conclusion 153 References 154 8 Rationalization Processes Between Social Representations and Semantic Block Theory 156 8.1 Framework 156 8.1.1 Social Representation Theory 156 8.1.2 Semantic Block Theory 158 8.2 Context of Study: Implementation of a New Public Policy 160 8.3 Aims and Hypotheses 162 8.4 Methodology 162 8.4.1 Procedure 162 8.4.2 Population 162 8.4.3 From Content Analysis to Discursive Construction 163 8.5 Results 163 8.5.1 Data 163 8.5.2 Patterns of Reasoning 164 8.5.3 Argumentative Aspects: Between Normative and Transgressive Connectors 165 8.5.4 Overlap of Argumentative Aspects Within Patterns of Reasoning 166 8.5.5 Variables Influencing Discourse Construction 168 8.6 Discussion 169 Acknowledgements 172 References 172 9 Spatial Aspects of Personification in International News 175 9.1 Introduction 175 9.2 International News, News Values and Personification 177 9.2.1 The Foundations of News Value Research 177 9.2.2 Some Under-Investigated Questions 179 9.2.3 Personification in the News and the Model Reader of RSS Feeds 180 9.3 Methodology 182 9.4 Results 184 9.4.1 Variations in Personification Based on Newspaper Type 185 9.4.2 Variations in Personification Based on Geographical Scale 187 9.4.3 Some Individuals in Different Spaces 188 9.5 Conclusion 190 References 192 Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Introduction (Dario Compagno)....Pages 1-29 Front Matter ....Pages 31-31 The Formalization of Elementary Semiotic Structures (Jean Petitot)....Pages 33-54 Neuromorphology of Meaning (Alessandro Sarti, Davide Barbieri)....Pages 55-74 Semiotics and Sensory Sciences: Meaning Between Texts and Numbers (Sara Spinelli)....Pages 75-100 Images as Utterances and as Multimodal Perceptual Experiences (Céline Cholet)....Pages 101-120 Front Matter ....Pages 121-121 Computer-Assisted Interpretation of Semiotic Corpora (François Rastier)....Pages 123-139 Elements of a Corpus Semantics for Humanities. Application to the Classification of Subjective Texts (Mathieu Valette)....Pages 141-150 Rationalization Processes Between Social Representations and Semantic Block Theory (Jimmy Bordarie)....Pages 151-169 Spatial Aspects of Personification in International News (Marta Severo, Laurent Beauguitte)....Pages 171-189