A Theory of Semiotics (Advances in Semiotics) [Paperback]

Umberto Eco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 1978 | ISBN-10: 0253202175 | ISBN-13: 978-0253202178

"... the greatest contribution to [semiotics] since the pioneering work of C. S. Peirce and Charles Morris." —Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

"... draws on philosophy, linguistics, sociology, anthropology and aesthetics and refers to a wide range of scholarship... raises many fascinating questions." —Language in Society

"... a major contribution to the field of semiotic studies." —Robert Scholes, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

"... the most significant text on the subject published in the English language that I know of." —Arthur Asa Berger, Journal of Communication

Eco's treatment demonstrates his mastery of the field of semiotics. It focuses on the twin problems of the doctrine of signs—communication and signification—and offers a highly original theory of sign production, including a carefully wrought typology of signs and modes of production.

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (November 22, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253202175
• ISBN-13: 978-0253202178
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #593,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Umberto Eco (born 5 January 1932) is an Italian novelist, medievalist, semiotician, philosopher, and literary critic.

He is the author of several bestselling novels, The Name of The Rose, Foucault's Pendulum, The Island of The Day Before, and Baudolino. His collections of essays include Five Moral Pieces, Kant and the Platypus, Serendipities, Travels In Hyperreality, and How To Travel With a Salmon and Other Essays.

He has also written academic texts and children's books.


Photography (c) Università Reggio Calabria

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Symbols: Development of a Methodology of Communication, October 26, 2000

By 

Nessander - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Theory of Semiotics (Advances in Semiotics) (Paperback)

The Italian Umberto Eco is a towering figure. A literary critic, novelist, and semiotician (studying symbols and symbol systems), he gained international recognition with "The Name of the Rose" (1980) in which he brought the study of semiotics to fiction. In this book, "Theory of Semiotics", he makes his contribution to the theoretical study of signs encompassing all cultural phenomena. His focus is on the development of a methodology of communication.

Like Roland Barthes, Eco starts from the foundations of semiotics in Saussure (Course in General Linguistics: who developed the idea of sign-systems and the sign/signified distinction, as well as the distinction between langue/parole - language and speech) and Claude Levi-Strauss (Structural Anthropology). Yet Eco surpasses this tradition to move into new territory, recognizing the limits to structuralism and Saussure's ideas. He recognizes, for example, that meaning is not merely governed by structure, but also interactively constructed by the reader/interpreter, who often inserts or fills-in missing meaning to construct a coherent picture.

Those interested in an introductory work to this fascinating field should be pointed to Eco's work "Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language" which is easier to start with.

21 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars never again will words be the same, July 23, 2003

By 

John Seybold (Madera, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Theory of Semiotics (Advances in Semiotics) (Paperback)

I stepped off the edge of normal thinking and rose to new heights of awareness. I have appreciated Mr. Eco as an author of great books, but I see him now as Dr. Eco, the man who makes words speak new meaning. When I listen to people, friends, family, (yes and God forgive me, TV talking heads) I no longer hear what they say, I see they are trying to express ideas with words they do not control. I just wish I could control them, the words, as Dr. Eco does. An excellent read, and excellant study and a great way to build your mind. Thank you Dr. Eco, mille gracie, mille, mille gracie.

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor printing and typography make reading painful, April 19, 2010

By 

Dezcom "Typeface designer" (Falls Church, VA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Theory of Semiotics (Advances in Semiotics) (Paperback)

Eco's "Theory of Semiotics" may well be a book of valuable content but I doubt if I will ever struggle through it to the end. The so-called "typesetting" is beyond pathetic for a University Press. It looks as though it were typed on an old 1970's Selectric ball typewriter which was badly in need of alignment. The text was appallingly slugged into the pages by an unskilled typist and then photo-copied numerous times to assure that reading it would cause pain and suffering to the hapless reader. The text is bold and blotchy with hiccups in letter alignment that makes one wonder if this were a low-tech pirated rip-off instead of the real thing. I would very gladly return this book if they would replace it with a text file that I could format myself and make readable.

My apologies to Umberto because I am a fan of his work in semiotics but the dear folks at Indiana University Press and perhaps "General Editor" Thomas A. Sebeok, need a lesson in typography from Robert Bringhurst or a visit from nearby Miles Tinker for a sound flogging with a pica ruler.

Chris Lozos