Author:
Bertil Ekdahl
Affiliation:
Lund University, Sweden
Keyword(s):
Computational semiotics, formal system, language, models, semiotics.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Artificial Intelligence
;
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Information Systems Analysis and Specification
;
Knowledge Management and Information Sharing
;
Knowledge-Based Systems
;
Semiotics
;
Symbolic Systems
Abstract:
Recently, semiotics has begun to be related to computing. Since semiotics is about the interpretation of signs, of which language is a chief part, such an interest may seem quite reasonable. The semiotic approach is supposed to bring semantics to the computer.
In this paper I discuss the realistic in this from the point of view of computers as linguistic systems, that is, as interpreters of descriptions (programs). I maintain the holistic view of language in which the parts are a whole and cannot be detached. This has the implication that computers cannot be semiotic systems since the necessary interpretation part cannot be made part of the program. From outside, a computer program can very well be considered semiotically since the equivalence between computers and formal system implies that there is a well defined model (interpretation) that has to be communicated.