Using jargon-free language and lively, up-to-date examples, The Basics demystifies this highly interdisciplinary subject. Along the way, the reader will find
* What is a sign?
* Which codes do we take for granted?
* What is a text?
* How can semiotics be used in textual analysis?
* Who were Saussure, Peirce, Barthes and Jakobson - and why are they important?
Features include a glossary of key terms and realistic suggestions for further reading. There is also a highly-developed and long-established online version of the