The DOI matches its Crossref record.
The Forms of Meaning: Modeling Systems Theory and Semiotic Analysis
Abstract
The making of models to encode knowledge is an intrinsic feature of human cognitive life. Signs, texts, codes, and various other representational forms are the direct outcomes of innate model-making systems. This book presents a methodological framework, developed from the field of biosemiotics, for studying semiotic phenomena as processes. It presents a descriptive system for uniting semiotics and biology so that the modeling instinct can be studied in terms of its manifestations in various species. The book is written in an accessible textbook style, and can thus be used as a manual by both professional semioticians and students taking courses in semiotics, biology, and the communication sciences. It is composed in such a way that a broad readership can appreciate the fascinating research going on in a relatively unknown area of interdisciplinary study.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Sebeok delineates three interconnected levels of modeling: primary (PMS), secondary (SMS), and tertiary (TMS), which correspond roughly to Peirce's categories of firstness, secondness, and thirdness [28].”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“According to the extensionality principle in MST, a virtual museum experience is often initially an iconic simulation (primary level) before it becomes indicative or symbolic (secondary or tertiary).”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“Crucially, MST categorizes the artificial forms specific to human activity into four general types: singularized forms, composite forms, cohesive forms, and connective forms (see Table A1) [28,41].”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“MST's principles, such as the extensionality principle and the interconnectedness principle, highlight that higher-level (more abstract) modeling presupposes and builds upon lower-level modeling.”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“According to MST, once modeling is involved, even if grounded in iconic resemblance, the model inherently deviates from the original referent (hence Sebeok's point that every act of modeling introduces noniconicity).”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“As described in MST, the virtual museum operates as a complex modeling system.”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“First, the museum itself is a vast semiotic system, and virtual museums are no exception.”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“Unlike language, which MST identifies as a secondary modeling system, the virtual museum here can be viewed as a tertiary system (cf.Sebeok and Danesi 2000, 83-85 [28]).”
From Virtual Museums as Meaning-Modeling Systems in Digital Heritage (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
Citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Ecosemiotics: main principles and current developments
Maran, T., & Kull, K. (2014) · Geografiska Annaler Series B Human Geography · doi:10.1111/geob.12035 · Cited by 121
Psychological functions of semiotic borders in sense-making: Liminality of narrative processes
Picione, R. D. L., & Valsiner, J. (2017) · Europe’s Journal of Psychology · doi:10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1136 · Cited by 106
Maran, T. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108942850 · Cited by 104
The Semiotic Hierarchy: Life, consciousness, signs and language
Zlatev, J. (2009) · Cognitive Semiotics · doi:10.1515/cogsem.2009.4.spring2009.169 · Cited by 75
Proactive screening for depression through metaphorical and automatic text analysis
Neuman, Y., Cohen, Y., Assaf, D., & Kedma, G. (2012) · Artificial Intelligence in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.artmed.2012.06.001 · Cited by 69
The Cultural Implications of Biosemiotics
Cobley, P. (2010) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-010-9089-6 · Cited by 61
Picione, R. D. L., Martino, M. L., & Freda, M. F. (2017) · Theory & Psychology · doi:10.1177/0959354317743580 · Cited by 63
Biosemiosis, Technocognition, and Sociogenesis
Kockelman, P. (2011) · Current Anthropology · doi:10.1086/661708 · Cited by 56
Ladder, tree, web: The ages of biological understanding
Kull, K. (2003) · Sign Systems Studies · doi:10.12697/sss.2003.31.2.15 · Cited by 55
Origin and Evolution of the Brain
Barbieri, M. (2011) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-011-9125-1 · Cited by 51
Draper, R. J., & Siebert, D. K. (2004) · American Educational Research Journal · doi:10.3102/00028312041004927 · Cited by 52
Opposition theory and the interconnectedness of language, culture, and cognition
Danesi, M. (2009) · Sign Systems Studies · doi:10.12697/sss.2009.37.1-2.02 · Cited by 49
Self-citationThe Semiotic Paradigm in Psychology. A Mature Weltanschauung for the Definition of Semiotic Mind
Picione, R. D. L. (2020) · Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s12124-020-09555-y · Cited by 48
The cultural transmission of tacit knowledge
Miton, H., & DeDeo, S. (2022) · Journal of The Royal Society Interface · doi:10.1098/rsif.2022.0238 · Cited by 69
Advertising: A Case for Intersemiotic Translation
Torresi, I. (2008) · Meta Journal des traducteurs · doi:10.7202/017974ar · Cited by 43
Possible use in psychology of threshold concept in order to study sensemaking processes
Picione, R. D. L., & Freda, M. F. (2016) · Culture & Psychology · doi:10.1177/1354067x16654858 · Cited by 42
What's More Important—Literacy or Content? Confronting the Literacy-Content Dualism
Draper, R. J., Smith, L. K., Hall, K. M., et al. (2005) · Action in Teacher Education · doi:10.1080/01626620.2005.10463379 · Cited by 42
Quality Marks, Metrics, and Measurement Procedures for Business Process Models
Overhage, S., Birkmeier, D. Q., & Schlauderer, S. (2012) · Business & Information Systems Engineering · doi:10.1007/s12599-012-0230-8 · Cited by 40
Barbieri, M. (2010) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-010-9088-7 · Cited by 41
Memes versus signs: On the use of meaning concepts about nature and culture
Kilpinen, E. (2008) · Semiotica · doi:10.1515/semi.2008.075 · Cited by 37
Picione, R. D. L. (2021) · Human Arenas · doi:10.1007/s42087-021-00212-3 · Cited by 37
A Short Introduction to Edusemiotics
Olteanu, A., & Campbell, C. (2018) · Chinese Semiotic Studies · doi:10.1515/css-2018-0015 · Cited by 36
Verpooten, J., & Nelissen, M. (2010) · Theory in Biosciences · doi:10.1007/s12064-010-0095-7 · Cited by 35
Entropy and complexity unveil the landscape of memes evolution
Valensise, C. M., Serra, A. O. G., Galeazzi, A., Etta, G., Cinelli, M., & Quattrociocchi, W. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99468-6 · Cited by 34
Biosemiotics and translation studies
Marais, K., & Kull, K. (2016) · Benjamins translation library · doi:10.1075/btl.126.08mar · Cited by 33
Brier, S. (2015) · Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.08.001 · Cited by 29
Brier, S. (2013) · CBS Research Portal (Copenhagen Business School) · Cited by 27
Ibrus, I., & Ojamaa, M. (2019) · Theory Culture & Society · doi:10.1177/0263276419871646 · Cited by 26
Multimodal Modeling: Bridging Biosemiotics and Social Semiotics
Olteanu, A. (2021) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-021-09463-7 · Cited by 26
A “Strong” Approach to Sustainability Literacy: Embodied Ecology and Media
Campbell, C., Lacković, N., & Olteanu, A. (2021) · Philosophies · doi:10.3390/philosophies6010014 · Cited by 31
Semiotics Today. From Global Semiotics to Semioethics, a Dialogic Response
Petrilli, S., & Ponzio, A. (2007) · CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) · Cited by 25
The Paradigm of Peircean Biosemiotics
Brier, S. (2008) · Cited by 25
Memes, genes, and signs: Semiotics in the conceptual interface of evolutionary biology and memetics
Fomin, I. (2019) · Semiotica · doi:10.1515/sem-2018-0016 · Cited by 24
Freda, M. F., Savarese, L., Dolce, P., & Picione, R. D. L. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02609 · Cited by 25
Uexküll, Peirce, and Other Affinities Between Biosemiotics and Biolinguistics
Augustyn, P. (2008) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-008-9028-y · Cited by 24
Fuzzy logic and semiotic methods in modeling of medical concepts
Kwiatkowska, M., & Kielan, K. (2012) · Fuzzy Sets and Systems · doi:10.1016/j.fss.2012.03.011 · Cited by 24
Brand image re-revisited: a semiotic note on brand iconicity and brand symbols
Rossolatos, G. (2017) · Social Semiotics · doi:10.1080/10350330.2017.1329973 · Cited by 24
Thomas A. Sebeok and biology: Building biosemiotics.
Kull, K. (2003) · Cybernetics & human knowing · Cited by 24
Arnett, R. C. (2017) · Language and Dialogue · doi:10.1075/ld.7.1.06arn · Cited by 23
Metaphor-based meaning excavation
Neuman, Y., & Nave, O. (2009) · Information Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.ins.2009.04.011 · Cited by 23
On the Metaphorical Connectivity of Cultural Sign Systems
Danesi, M. (2013) · Signs and Society · doi:10.1086/670164 · Cited by 22
Self-citationEducating Semiosis: Foundational Concepts for an Ecological Edusemiotic
Campbell, C. (2018) · Studies in Philosophy and Education · doi:10.1007/s11217-018-9617-4 · Cited by 22
Biology of modeling: revisiting Humberto Maturana’s philosophy
Druzhinin, A. S. (2025) · Chinese Semiotic Studies · doi:10.1515/css-2025-2009 · Cited by 21
Finding an information concept suited for a universal theory of information
Brier, S. (2015) · Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.06.018 · Cited by 21
Ma, J. (2014) · Mind Culture and Activity · doi:10.1080/10749039.2014.913294 · Cited by 21
Sign vehicles for semiotic travels: Two new handbooks
(2002) · Semiotica · doi:10.1515/semi.2002.055 · Cited by 21
Cybersemiotics and Human Modelling
Cobley, P. (2010) · Entropy · doi:10.3390/e12092045 · Cited by 23
The Bidirectionality of Metaphor
Danesi, M. (2017) · Poetics Today · doi:10.1215/03335372-3716201 · Cited by 20
Self-citationNeuman, Y. (2009) · The International Journal of Psychoanalysis · doi:10.1111/j.1745-8315.2009.00151.x · Cited by 20
Matthews, S. W., & Danesi, M. (2019) · Chinese Semiotic Studies · doi:10.1515/css-2019-0013 · Cited by 21
Self-citationA sign is not alive — a text is
Kull, K. (2002) · Sign Systems Studies · doi:10.5840/signsystems200230186 · Cited by 20
Neuman, Y., & Levi, M. (2003) · Journal of Language and Social Psychology · doi:10.1177/0261927x02250053 · Cited by 20
Beta, S. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316662168.017 · Cited by 18
Sanctis, G. D. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316662168.012 · Cited by 18
Tønnessen, M. (2015) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20663-9_5 · Cited by 18
Viglietti, C. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316662168.011 · Cited by 17
Modeling in semiotics: an integrative update
Yu, H. (2021) · Chinese Semiotic Studies · doi:10.1515/css-2021-2038 · Cited by 17
Language as Primary Modeling and Natural Languages: A Biosemiotic Perspective
Petrilli, S., & Ponzio, A. (2015) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20663-9_4 · Cited by 17
Semiotics “Today”: The Twentieth-Century Founding and Twenty-First-Century Prospects
Deely, J. N. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9404-6_2 · Cited by 16
A Peircean Panentheist Scientific Mysticism
Brier, S. (2008) · International Journal of Transpersonal Studies · doi:10.24972/ijts.2008.27.1.20 · Cited by 16
Biosemiotics for postdigital living: the implications of the implications
Olteanu, A., & Campbell, C. (2023) · Chinese Semiotic Studies · doi:10.1515/css-2022-2096 · Cited by 15
Marino, G. (2021) · Sign Systems Studies · doi:10.12697/sss.2021.49.3-4.04 · Cited by 15
Staiano-Ross, K. (2011) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-011-9112-6 · Cited by 15
“What does development stand for?” A socio-semiotic conceptualisation
Marais, K. (2017) · Social Semiotics · doi:10.1080/10350330.2017.1392129 · Cited by 14
Defining Religion A Humanities Perspective
Schilderman, H. (2014) · Journal of Empirical Theology · doi:10.1163/15709256-12341296 · Cited by 13
Sensory Exploitation: Underestimated in the Evolution of Art As Once in Sexual Selection Theory?
Verpooten, J., & Nelissen, M. (2011) · Boston studies in the philosophy of science · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-1951-4_9 · Cited by 13
Is language a primary modeling system? On Juri Lotman’s concept of semiosphere
Chang, H.-L. (2003) · Sign Systems Studies · doi:10.12697/sss.2003.31.1.01 · Cited by 13
Meaning Networks and Verbal Communication: A Semiotic Perspective of Human Discourse
Danesi, M. (2001) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-1313-1_14 · Cited by 13
Self-citationBrier, S. (2012) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5419-5_5 · Cited by 13
Champagne, M. (2018) · Studies in the history of philosophy of mind · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-73338-8_5 · Cited by 12
Upright posture and the meaning of meronymy: A synthesis of metaphoric and analytic accounts
Pelkey, J. (2018) · Cognitive Semiotics · doi:10.1515/cogsem-2018-0003 · Cited by 12
Song, G. (2019) · Perspectives · doi:10.1080/0907676x.2019.1639780 · Cited by 12
Cannizzaro, S. (2012) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-012-9154-4 · Cited by 12
In the Same Boat? On Metaphor Variation as Mediating the Individual Voice in Organizational Change
Argaman, E. (2008) · Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1093/applin/amn021 · Cited by 12
Petrilli, S., & Ponzio, A. (2008) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-008-9007-3 · Cited by 12
Dydynski, J. M. (2020) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-020-09386-9 · Cited by 11
Naturalizing Models: New Perspectives in a Peircean Key
Olteanu, A., Campbell, C., & Feil, S. (2020) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-020-09385-w · Cited by 12
Picione, R. D. L. (2020) · RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA · doi:10.3280/rip2020-002001 · Cited by 11
Metaphor and poetic logic in Vico
Ponzio, A. (2006) · Semiotica · doi:10.1515/sem.2006.064 · Cited by 11
Sharov, A. A. (2012) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5419-5_18 · Cited by 11
Human responsibility in the universe of global semiotics
Petrilli, S. (2004) · Semiotica · doi:10.1515/semi.2004.046 · Cited by 11
Justice, fairness and juridical perfectibility
Petrilli, S. (2016) · International Journal of Legal Discourse · doi:10.1515/ijld-2016-0011 · Cited by 10
‘Eleven different names, one practice’: towards a phenomenology of translation
Marais, K. (2020) · Perspectives · doi:10.1080/0907676x.2020.1726419 · Cited by 5
Ecosemiotics: The Study of Signs in Changing Ecologies
Maran, T. (2020) · Cited by 13
What Connects Biolinguistics and Biosemiotics?
Augustyn, P. (2013) · Biolinguistics · doi:10.5964/bioling.8957 · Cited by 10
Sebeok's Semiosic Universe and Global Semiotics.
Petrilli, S. (2003) · CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) · Cited by 10
Deep Ecosemiotics: Forest as a Semiotic Model1
Maran, T. (2021) · Recherches sémiotiques · doi:10.7202/1076237ar · Cited by 10
Embracing the Learning Turn: The ecological context of learning
Campbell, C. (2022) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-022-09507-6 · Cited by 10
Computational Representation of Medical Concepts: A Semiotic and Fuzzy Logic Approach
Kwiatkowska, M., Michalik, K., & Kielan, K. (2011) · Studies in fuzziness and soft computing · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-24672-2_21 · Cited by 10
Kull, K. (2003) · Semiotics · doi:10.5840/cpsem200337 · Cited by 10
Transhumanism, Society and Education: An Edusemiotic Approach
Redondo, S. G., Higuera, C. J. R., Coca, J. R., & Olteanu, A. (2024) · Studies in Philosophy and Education · doi:10.1007/s11217-024-09927-6 · Cited by 9
Toward a Pedagogy of Firstness
Campbell, C. (2018) · Chinese Semiotic Studies · doi:10.1515/css-2018-0005 · Cited by 9
Translation as Listening and Encounter with the Other in Migration and Globalization Processes Today
Petrilli, S., & Ponzio, A. (2008) · TTR traduction terminologie rédaction · doi:10.7202/017829ar · Cited by 9
Ponzio, A. (2004) · Semiotica · doi:10.1515/semi.2004.053 · Cited by 9
Parslow, J. (2006) · Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) · Cited by 9
Jaroš, F., & Pudil, M. (2020) · Biosemiotics · doi:10.1007/s12304-020-09387-8 · Cited by 9
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OF FLOOD PREPAREDNESS: CURRENT PHENOMENA TO FUTURE ACTION
Kamarulzaman, N. H., Vaiappuri, S. K. N., Ismail, N. A., et al. (2016) · Jurnal Teknologi · doi:10.11113/jt.v78.8246 · Cited by 9
Organic Codes and the Natural History of Mind
Barbieri, M. (2012) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5419-5_2 · Cited by 7
Tourists’ Embodied Metaphors in Lifestyle Cultural Space
Wang, Z.-C., Tang, J., Zhou, L.-X., & Goh, B. (2024) · Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research · doi:10.1177/10963480241237089 · Cited by 11
Metadata
- Authors
- Sebeok, T. A., & Danesi, M.
- ORCID
- Danesi, Marcel
- Venue
- De Gruyter eBooks
- Publisher
- DE GRUYTER
- Published
- 2000-12-31
- OpenAlex
- W612154768
- Cited by
- 308
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 65.77
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- De Gruyter eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Semiotics and Representation Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy of Biology and Scientific Explanation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Umberto Eco and Semiotics
- Keywords
- biosemiotics, semiotics, meaning, signs, codes, representational forms, semiotic processes, animal communication
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
