Peer-review for Establishing Cognitive Semiotics book volume

In March I peer-reviewed a chapter submitted to a book project which is to be published by Peter Lang. The book has the working title Establishing Cognitive Semiotics.

Early human Umwelt article to be revised

I have been notified about the editors' decision on my article "The ontogeny of the embryonic, foetal and infant human Umwelt”, submitted to a forthcoming Special Issue of Sign Systems Studies, entitled "Sign evolution on multiple time scales" and edited by Luis Emilio Bruni and Kristian Tylén. A revision of my article, based on two peer reviews, is due March 28th.

See also:

Ontogeny of early human Umwelt article finished

Ontogeny of early human Umwelt article finished

This night (sic) I finished my article "The ontogeny of the embryonic, foetal and infant human Umwelt" - about 7.500 words, with 8 figures. The article has been submitted to Sign Systems Studies, which will publish a special issue on the theme of the 8th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies, "Sign evolution on multiple time scales".

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Research questions

3. Conceptual framework

4. The embryonic Umwelt

5. The foetal Umwelt

6. The infant Umwelt

Abstract 

This article, which envelops a case study and theoretical development of Umwelt theory, addresses four research questions: At what point does the human Umwelt emerge? What Umwelt transitions can be identified in the ontogenesis of the early human Umwelt? What else is characteristic of the Umwelt trajectory of human embryos/foetuses/infants? And how are Umwelt objects established/crystallized/fixated in the human Umwelt?

The early human Umwelt is characterised by rapid change, radical transformations, and gradual establishment of the first and most basic Umwelt objects by way of exploration and learning. While the human Umwelt arguably emerges already at the embryonic stage, the sense-saturated Umwelt emerges at the foetal stage. Unlike an adult’s Umwelt, the Umwelt of the foetus and the infant is not fully functional from the perspective of the organism itself. In other words, their functioning directly depends on others. Our human sociality is further stimulated by shared undertakings early on in our terrestrial lives which effectively make us part of some specific social system.

NASS VIII paper scheduled for May 30th

My paper "The ontogeny of the embryonic, fetal and infant human Umwelt", to be presented at The Eighth Conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS): “Sign evolution on multiple time scales” (Center for Semiotics, Aarhus University, Denmark, May 29th – 31st) has been scheduled for oral presentation Thursday May 30th at 14.45-15.15, in the theme session "Biosemiotics", to be chaired by Kalevi Kull (aud. 1483-244). The preliminary program of the conference is available in the latest newsletter of NASS (pp. 8-14). 

Riin Magnus ("The development of sign usage in the cooperation of the blind person and guide dog team") and Barend van Heusden ("Semiotic cognition and lateralization") will present in the same session.

3rd issue of the NASS Letter completed and published

Yesterday I prepared the 3rd issue of the newsletter of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS), and today I spoke with co-editor Inesa Sahakyan, going through my contributions and hers alike. The newsletter was distributed today, to more than 200 email addresses, including everybody who have registered for the upcoming NASS conference in Aarhus, Denmark. The 3rd issue of the NASS Letter is 14 pp. including the preliminary program of that conference. It is available in full here (see also previous newsletters).

I furthermore updated the webpage of NASS - and published (and, indeed, penned), both in the newsletter and on the webpage, the NASS board's call for General Assembly in Aarhus (May 30th).

NASS VIII abstract on early human Umwelt accepted

Some two weeks ago I was informed that my abstract "The ontogeny of the embryonic, fetal and infant human Umwelt" has been accepted for presentation at the 8th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies, Sign Evolution on Multiple Time Scales (Aalborg, Denmark, May 29-31).

Peer review for NASS VIII conducted

On March 1st I conducted peer review of 6 abstracts submitted to the Eight Conference of the nordic Association for Semiotic Studies: Sign Evolution on Multiple Time Scales, in capacity of being a member of the conference's Scientific Committee.

Final CFP: NASS VIII (Aarhus May 2013): Sign evolution on multiple time scales

Final Call for Papers and Theme Sessions of the Eighth Conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS):

NB: Notice that we have extended the deadline for theme session proposals to Jan 31^st and we added another plenary speaker: Nicolas Fay (University of Western Australia)   

Sign evolution on multiple time scales

We hereby invite submission of abstracts for oral or poster presentations for the Eighth Conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS) to be held at the Center for Semiotics, Aarhus University, Denmark, May 29^th – 31^st, 2013.

The theme of this year’s conference is the evolution of signs, and will thus - among many others - address the following questions:

* What are the basic mechanisms and conditions for the emergence of new signs and sign systems (such as codes, notational systems, verbal and sign languages, gesture, graphical symbols, pictorial expression, etc.)?

* To which extent should we search for these mechanisms at the level of biology, culture, cognition, phenomenological experience or interaction?

* And what are the relevant features of signs themselves making them emerge, survive and propagate in contexts of communication?

The conference brings together international scholars from a range of disciplines each addressing these questions in relation to particular time scales ranging from biological and cultural evolution to ontogeny and online social interaction.

Presentations should address aspects of how signs and sign systems emerge and develop on different time scales. Topics include, but are not limited to:
* Sign emergence and development on an evolutionary time scale
* Sign emergence and development on a cultural, historical timescale
* Sign emergence and development on an ontogenetic time scale
* Sign emergence and development on an online interactive time scale
* Cultural perspectives on sign emergence and development
* Cognitive perspectives on sign emergence and development
* Dynamical systems perspectives on sign emergence and development
* Phenomenological perspectives on sign emergence and development
* Neurological perspectives on sign emergence and development
* Biological perspectives on sign emergence and development

Confirmed Plenary Speakers:

Luc Steels (ICREA Barcelona and Sony Computer Laboratory Paris)

Jordan Zlatev (Lund University)

Fatima Cvrckova – (Charles University, Prague)

Bruno Galantucci (Yeshiva University, NY)

Susan Goldin-Meadow (University of Chicago)

Winfried Nöth (University of Kassel)

Nicolas Fay (University of Western Australia)

Paper submissions:

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and should be sent as an attachment to kristian@nordicsemiotics.org in doc, docx, ort or pdf format. Please do not include name or contact details in the text file. Specify in a cover mail your Title, Name, Affiliation, and whether the abstract is intended for oral or poster presentation. Please also indicate if your abstract should be considered part of a theme session (if you are taking part in organizing one) and if would be willing to present a poster if the abstract is not accepted for oral presentation. 

Deadline:  January 31

Theme Sessions proposals:

Proposals for thematic sessions should contain an abstract of no more than 300 words describing the theme. It should also specify the name and affiliation of the organizer(s) and a list of people that would potentially like their presentation to be part of the theme session (IMPORTANT: each participant should still submit her own individual paper abstract that will go through regular peer review). The theme session proposal should be send to kristian@nordicsemiotics.org as an attachment in doc, docx, ort or pdf format. Please specify in a cover mail the Title, Name(s) and Affiliation(s) of the theme session organizers and the title of the theme session proposal. Theme session organizer(s) may be contacted about the potential inclusion of additional papers from general submission if these seems to fit the proposed theme.  

Deadline: December 31/NB extended deadline: Jan 31st

Important Dates
* October 5: First Call for Papers and Theme Session Proposals
* December 1: Second Call for Papers and Theme Session Proposals
* New deadline: January 31: Deadline for theme session proposals
* January 31: Deadline for abstract submission
* March 15: Notification of acceptance
* April 1st: Registration opens
* May 29 – May 31: Conference

If you have any questions or comments related to the conference organization, please email Kristian Tylén: kristian@nordicsemiotics.org. The official conference website will soon be available following www.nordicsemiotics.org/VIII

Member of Scientific Committee of NASS 8

I have been appointed a member of the Scientific Committee of the Eighth Conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS), which will be named Sign Evolution on Multiple Time Scales and is convened by Kristian Tylén. My responsibility will be limited to reviewing 6-8 abstracts. The conference will take place in Aarhus, Denmark, May 29th-31st 2013.