The formal and mental structures of semiotic processes

The formal and psychological requirements of semiosis or sign action is dis cussed. It is shown that, at the formal level, systems of signs are best ac counted for in terms of Peirce's semiotic triad of sign, object and interpr etant, as well as his view that systems of signs are generative and recursi ve. The importance of the distinction between sign and representamen, as we ll as that between the dynamic and immediate objects in the semiotic triad, is also noted. A case is then made that, in addition to the formal semioti c triad, it is necessary to make explicit the role of the maker of the sign , the intended receiver of the sign, and the context in which the sign is u sed at the psychological level. The interrelationships among the sextuple ( viz. sign, object, sign maker, sign receiver, context and interpretant) are illustrated by treating speech acts as a kind of sign action or semiosis w ith a heuristic model.