Multimodal Semiotics

This volume presents an overview of new developments and applications of social semiotic theory. Pioneered by M.A.K. Halliday, social semiotic theory sees meaning as created through the interaction of texts (including writing, images, sound and space) within a given context. Divided into five sections, the contributors use social semiotic theory to analyse a range of contexts, including the classroom, the museum and cinema. The case studies show the range and scope of this method of analysis, and include: the school curriculum; literacy; print media; online resources; film; and advertising.   Multimodal Semiotics will be of interest to academics researching social semiotic theory, systemic functional linguistics and applied linguistics.

Len Unsworth is Professor in English and Literacies Education at the University of New England in Armidale, Australia.

Contents Introduction 1. Multimodal semiotic analyses and education, Len Unsworth (University of New England, Australia) Part I: Semiotics and 3D Space 2. Analysing space, Louise Ravelli (University of New South Wales, Australia) 3. The discursive construction of social space, Theo Van Leeuwen (University of Technology, Sydney, Australia) 4. Interpersonal meaning in 3D space: How a Bonding icon gets its 'charge', Maree Stenglin (University of Sydney, Australia) 5. The interplay of discourse, place and space in pedagogic relations, Pauline Jones (University of Wollongong, Australia) Part II: Semiotics in Film 6. Cohesive harmony in filmic text, Chiaoi Tseng (University of Bremen, Germany) 7. Metafunctional analyses of sound in film communication, Betty Pun (University of New South Wales, Australia) Part III: Semiotics in News and Public Media 8. Intermodal relations in image nuclear news stories, Helen  Caple (University of Sydney, Australia) 9. Online newspapers and TESOL classrooms: A multimodal perspective, John Knox (Macquarie University, Australia) 10. Symbolic constructions in global public visuals: A Pedagogic Framework for Critical Visual Literacy, Jan Connelly (University of New England, Armidale, Australia) Part IV: Semiotics in School Curricula 11. Literacy across the school subjects: A multimodal approach, Kristina Love (University of Melbourne, Australia) 12. Time visuals in history text books: some pedagogic issues (Beverly Derewianka (University of Wollongong, Australia) and Caroline Coffin (The Open University, UK) 13. Multimodal representation of educational meanings in Montessori pedagogy, Susan Feez (University of New England, Australia) 14. Children's website structure and navigation, Emilia Djonov (Macquarie University, Australia) 15. Metaphor in art education products, Ulla Oksanen (University of Helsinki, Finland)