The book is the first annotated reader to focus specifically on the discipline of zoosemiotics.
Zoosemiotics can be defined today as the study of signification communication and
representation within and across animal species. The name for the field was proposed in 1963 by
the American semiotician Thomas A. Sebeok. He also established the framework for the paradigm
by finding and tightening connections to predecessors describing terminology developing
methodology and setting directions for possible future studies.The volume includes a wide
selection of original texts accompanied by editorial introductions. An extensive opening
introduction discusses the place of zoosemiotics among other sciences as well as its inner
dimensions the understanding of the concept of communication in zoosemiotics the heritage of
biologist Jakob v. Uexküll contemporary developments in zoosemiotics and other issues. Chapter
introductions discuss the background of the authors and selected texts as well as other
relevant texts.The selected texts cover a wide range of topics such as semiotic constitution
of nature cognitive capabilities of animals typology of animal expression and many other
issues. The roots of zoosemiotics can be traced back to the works of David Hume and John Locke.
Great emphasis is placed on the heritage of Thomas A. Sebeok and a total of four of his essays
are included. The Reader also includes influential studies in animal communication (honey bee
dance language vervet monkey alarm calls) as well as theory elaborations by Gregory Bateson
and others. The reader concludes with a section dedicated to contemporary research. Readings in
Zoosemiotics is intended as a primary source of information about zoosemiotics and also
provides additional readings for students of cognitive ethology and animal communication
studies.
