Kirjahaku

This Element provides an accessible introduction to ecosemiotics and demonstrates its pertinence for the study of today's unstable culture-nature relations. Ecosemiotics can be defined as the study of sign processes responsible for ecological phenomena. The arguments in this Element are developed in three steps that take inspiration from both humanities and biological sciences: 1) Showing the diversity, reach and effects of sign-mediated relations in the natural environment from the level of a single individual up the functioning of the ecosystem. 2) Demonstrating numerous ways in which prelinguistic semiotic relations are part of culture and identifying detrimental environmental effects that self-contained and purely symbol-based sign systems, texts and discourses bring along. 3) Demonstrating how ecosemiotic analysis centred on models and modelling can effectively map relations between texts and the natural environment, or the lack thereof, and how this methodology can be used artistically to initiate environmentally friendly cultural forms and practices.

The present book analyses critically the tripartite mimicry model (consisting of the mimic, model and receiver species) and develops semiotic tools for comparative analysis. It is proposed that mimicry has a double structure where sign relations in communication are in constant interplay with ecological relations between species. Multi-constructivism and toolbox-like conceptual methods are advocated for, as these allow taking into account both the participants’ Umwelten as well as cultural meanings related to specific mimicry cases.From biosemiotic viewpoint, mimicry is a sign relation, where deceptively similar messages are perceived, interpreted and acted upon. Focusing on living subjects and their communication opens up new ways to understand mimicry. Such view helps to explain the diversity of mimicry as well as mimicry studies and treat these in a single framework. On a meta-level, a semiotic view allows critical reflection on the use of mimicry concept in modern biology. The author further discusses interpretations of mimicry in contemporary semiotics, analyses mimicry as communicative interaction, relates mimicry to iconic signs and focuses on abstract resemblances in mimicry. Theoretical discussions are illustrated with detailed excursions into practical mimicry cases in nature (brood parasitism, eyespots, myrmecomorphy, etc.). The book concludes with a conviction that mimicry should be treated in a broader semiotic-ecological context as it presumes the existence of ecological codes and other sign conventions in the ecosystem.

The present book analyses critically the tripartite mimicry model (consisting of the mimic, model and receiver species) and develops semiotic tools for comparative analysis. It is proposed that mimicry has a double structure where sign relations in communication are in constant interplay with ecological relations between species. Multi-constructivism and toolbox-like conceptual methods are advocated for, as these allow taking into account both the participants’ Umwelten as well as cultural meanings related to specific mimicry cases.From biosemiotic viewpoint, mimicry is a sign relation, where deceptively similar messages are perceived, interpreted and acted upon. Focusing on living subjects and their communication opens up new ways to understand mimicry. Such view helps to explain the diversity of mimicry as well as mimicry studies and treat these in a single framework. On a meta-level, a semiotic view allows critical reflection on the use of mimicry concept in modern biology. The author further discusses interpretations of mimicry in contemporary semiotics, analyses mimicry as communicative interaction, relates mimicry to iconic signs and focuses on abstract resemblances in mimicry. Theoretical discussions are illustrated with detailed excursions into practical mimicry cases in nature (brood parasitism, eyespots, myrmecomorphy, etc.). The book concludes with a conviction that mimicry should be treated in a broader semiotic-ecological context as it presumes the existence of ecological codes and other sign conventions in the ecosystem.

Timo Marani valikluulekogu Nestor Ljutjuki illustratsioonidega.Inimene kasvabsissepoole. Ta on pööratud puu.Juured on taevas, süda maa peal,lehed ilma mööda laiali.Hea inimene toob maa pealeselgust ja tarkust.

Raamat esitab sissejuhatuse ökosemiootikasse ja näitab selle asjakohasust tänapäeva ebastabiilsete kultuuri ja looduse suhete uurimisel. Ökosemiootikat võib defineerida kui nende märgiprotsesside uurimist, millest ökoloogilised nähtused sõltuvad. Mõtisklusi esitatakse teoses kolmes etapis, ammutades inspiratsiooni nii humanitaarteadustest kui ka bioloogiast.Esimeses peatükis selgitatakse märkide vahendatud suhete mitmekesisust, ulatust ja mõju looduskeskkonnas, alates üksikindiviidi tasandist kuni ökosüsteemi funktsioneerimiseni. Teises peatükis näidatakse eri viise, kuidas eelkeelelised semiootilised suhted on osa kultuurist ning osutatakse kahjulikele keskkonnamõjudele, mille toovad kaasa enesesse sulgunud ja pelgalt sümbolipõhised märgisüsteemid.Kolmandas peatükis selgub, kuidas mudelitele ja modelleerimisele keskenduv ökosemiootiline analüüs suudab efektiivselt kaardistada tekstide ja looduskeskkonna suhteid või tuua esile nende puudumise ning kuidas saab seda lähenemist loominguliselt kasutada, et panna alus keskkonnasõbralikele kultuurivormidele ja -praktikatele. Käesolev teos on ökosemiootika esimene raamatu mahus tutvustus eesti keeles.