Mathematical Discourse
Language, Symbolism and Visual Images
1st Edition
Published on 1. December 2004
240 pages
978-1-4411-7737-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book examines mathematical discourse from the perspective of Michael Halliday's social semiotic theory. In this approach, mathematics is conceptualized as a multisemiotic discourse involving language, visual images and symbolism.
The book discusses the evolution of the semiotics of mathematical discourse, and then, proceeds to examine the grammar of mathematical symbolism, the grammar of mathematical visual images, intersemiosis between language, visual images and symbolism and the subsequent ways in which mathematics orders reality. The focus of this investigation is written mathematical texts.
The aims of the book are to understand the semantic realm of mathematics and to appreciate the metaphorical expansions and simultaneous limitations of meaning in mathematical discourse. The book is intended for linguists, semioticians, social scientists and those interested in mathematics and science education. In addition, the close study of the multisemiotic mature of mathematics has implications for other studies adopting a social semiotic approach to multimodality.
The book discusses the evolution of the semiotics of mathematical discourse, and then, proceeds to examine the grammar of mathematical symbolism, the grammar of mathematical visual images, intersemiosis between language, visual images and symbolism and the subsequent ways in which mathematics orders reality. The focus of this investigation is written mathematical texts.
The aims of the book are to understand the semantic realm of mathematics and to appreciate the metaphorical expansions and simultaneous limitations of meaning in mathematical discourse. The book is intended for linguists, semioticians, social scientists and those interested in mathematics and science education. In addition, the close study of the multisemiotic mature of mathematics has implications for other studies adopting a social semiotic approach to multimodality.
Reviews / Votes
Briefly reviewed in the Year's work in English Studies journal, vol 89, No. 1 'O'Halloran uses Systematic Functional Grammar and communicative principles put forward by M.A. K. Halliday to account for the multifaceted aspects of mathematics'More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-7737-7 (9781441177377)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2008
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
€83.90
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Dr Kay O'Halloran is Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature, and Director of the Multimodal Analysis Lab in the Interactive & Digital Media Institute (IMI) at the National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Content
1. Mathematics as a Multisemiotic Discourse
2. Evolution of the Semiotics of Mathematics
3. Systemic Functional Linguistics and Mathematical Language
4. The Grammar of Mathematical Symbolism
5. The Grammar of Mathematical Visual Images
6. Intersemiosis: Meaning Across Language, Visual Images and Symbolism
7. Mathematical Constructions of Reality
2. Evolution of the Semiotics of Mathematics
3. Systemic Functional Linguistics and Mathematical Language
4. The Grammar of Mathematical Symbolism
5. The Grammar of Mathematical Visual Images
6. Intersemiosis: Meaning Across Language, Visual Images and Symbolism
7. Mathematical Constructions of Reality
