Semantics and Methodology Cover Image

Semantică și metodologie
Semantics and Methodology

Author(s): Eugeniu Coseriu
Contributor(s): Cristina Bleorțu (Translator), Cristinel Munteanu (Translator)
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Semantics, Philosophy of Language, Methodology and research technology, Sociology of Culture
Published by: Editura Universitară Danubius
Keywords: cultural sciences; semantics; methodology; terminology; concepts;

Summary/Abstract: In this short, but very important text, Eugenio Coseriu underlines the necessity for the representatives of the humanities / cultural sciences to define their specific terms when using them in scientific papers; otherwise, dangerous confusions can happen in the readers’ minds. Moreover, Coseriu – in agreement with the medieval remark according to which verba significant res mediantibus conceptibus – insists on the fact that scientific (and even philosophical) terms do not designate directly the “things” themselves, but through the medium of concepts. Thus, one can observe that many scholars cannot understand each other in their specific field precisely because they refer to different concepts (as signifieds), although they use the same terms (as signifiers). In this regard, the Romanian linguist gives some clarifying examples, such as democracy, realism etc.

  • Issue Year: 16/2022
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 40-46
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: Romanian