this paper I shall make a case for a dynamic semiotics. I list a set of phenomena that are difficult to understand in standard theories, and suggest a model borrowed from theories of complex dynamic systems. Since such theories rely on processes of self-organization that often defy analytical treatment, I use small computational models for assessing the empirical consequences of the theories.

The notions of emergence and emergent properties have a long history in science, and have recently regained popularity in systems science fuelled largely by the growth of computer simulation as an exploratory and investigative tool. Unfortunately, the notions and terms are not especially well defined: ideas of evolution, self-organization, collective (`systemic') properties and cooperative behaviour are all involved to a greater or lesser extent. It is often claimed that emergent properties arise at a particular level of system description by virtue of the interaction of relatively simple lower-level components -- between themselves and with the environment -- but cannot be explained at this lower level. Yet there are obvious scientific and philosophical problems with a definition based on an inability to explain observable effects in particular terms. This editorial outlines the history of emergence as a scientific concept, and reviews attempts to refine and qualify the term. 1 1 In...

It is well known that Russian consonants contrast in palatalization. Also well known are certain allophonic rules connected to this palatalization contrast. One such rule requires that the phoneme /i/ be realized as high central unrounded [Y] after non-palatalized consonants, and [i] elsewhere, e.g., b j it j 'to beat' from /b j it j / versus bYt j 'to be' from /bit j /. Another concerns velar consonants, which (as traditionally viewed) do not contrast in palatalization: velars can be followed only by [i] and not by [Y], e.g., x j itrYj 'clever' from /xitrij/, cf. *xYtrYj. (In addition, velars before [i] are allophonically palatalized, as shown.) This latter rule arose due to a sound change occurring between the twel

this paper is to show that semiotics has implications for practical activities such as designing computer support for work. In particular, I want to demonstrate the manner in which a dynamic semiotic model guides empirical analysis of a task domain and yields ideas for computer support of the domain.

Anymechanism of language acquisition can onlylearn a restricted set of grammars. The human brain contains a mechanism for language acquisition which can learn a restricted set of grammars. The theoryof this restricted set is universal grammar (UG). UG has to be sufficientlyspecific to induce linguistic coherence in a population. This phenomenon is known as ‘‘coherence threshold’’. Previously, we have calculated the coherence threshold for deterministic dynamics and infinitely large populations. Here, we extend the framework to stochastic processes and finite populations. If there is selection for communicative function (selective language dynamics), then the analytic results for infinite populations are excellent approximations for finite populations; as expected, finite populations need a slightlyhigher accuracyof language acquisition to maintain coherence. If there is no selection for communicative function (neutral language dynamics), then linguistic coherence is only possible for finite populations. r 2003 Published byElsevier Science Ltd. 1.