The book is an in-depth presentation of the European branch of semiotic theory originating in
the work of Ferdinand de Saussure. It has four parts: a historical introduction the analysis
of langue narrative theory and communication theory. Part I briefly presents all the semiotic
schools and their main points of reference. Although this material is accessible in many other
Anglophone publications the presentation is marked by specific choices aiming to display
similarities and differences. The analysis of langue in Part II is also available in Anglophone
bibliography but the book presents Saussurean theory according to a new theoretical rationale
and enriched with later developments. In addition it is orientated so as to offer the
foundation for the part that follows. Part III is a presentation of Greimasian narrative theory
well documented in Francophone bibliography but poorly represented in Anglophone publications.
The presentation extends the theory in both a qualitative and a new quantitative direction and
includes a great number of examples and two extended textual analyses to help the reader
understand and apply it. Part IV communication theory combines an extension of Greimasian
sociosemiotics with other schools of thought. This original theoretical section discusses
fourteen consecutive communication models the synthesis of which results in a holistic social
semiotic theory of communication.
