Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering
This paper investigates the social semiotic practices surrounding use of information graphics within the specialized discourse of Civil Engineering. It combines the theoretical considerations of multimodal social semiotics and New Literacy Studies, which offers a conceptualisation of meaning-making...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Ibérica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.aelfe.org/documents/37_06_IBERICA.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811232961779990528 |
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| author | Zach Simpson |
| author_facet | Zach Simpson |
| author_sort | Zach Simpson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper investigates the social semiotic practices surrounding use of information graphics within the specialized discourse of Civil Engineering. It combines the theoretical considerations of multimodal social semiotics and New Literacy Studies, which offers a conceptualisation of meaning-making as social practice. Methodologically, the paper draws on data collected as part of a twoyear ethnographic investigation into the meaning-making practices introduced to students in a civil engineering higher education programme offered by a large, public university in Johannesburg, South Africa. Data was collected through observation and reflection on the part of the researcher, as well as through collection of documentary artefacts. Three broad social practices surrounding the use of information graphics in Civil Engineering are identified, each of which is characterised by the representational functions they fulfil. The three types of graphics are metaphorically labelled as display case, catalogue and clock face graphics. These are described, and the features of each explained. The paper concludes with brief reflection on how delineation of the social practices associated with information graphics enables understanding of civil engineering knowledge – and the communication and representation thereof – as socially organized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:13:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27a5861448c747d2817d6671055cdd70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1139-7241 2340-2784 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:13:12Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ibérica |
| spelling | doaj.art-27a5861448c747d2817d6671055cdd702022-12-22T03:35:34ZengAsociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines EspecíficosIbérica1139-72412340-27842019-05-0137141166Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineeringZach Simpson0University of Johannesburg (South Africa)This paper investigates the social semiotic practices surrounding use of information graphics within the specialized discourse of Civil Engineering. It combines the theoretical considerations of multimodal social semiotics and New Literacy Studies, which offers a conceptualisation of meaning-making as social practice. Methodologically, the paper draws on data collected as part of a twoyear ethnographic investigation into the meaning-making practices introduced to students in a civil engineering higher education programme offered by a large, public university in Johannesburg, South Africa. Data was collected through observation and reflection on the part of the researcher, as well as through collection of documentary artefacts. Three broad social practices surrounding the use of information graphics in Civil Engineering are identified, each of which is characterised by the representational functions they fulfil. The three types of graphics are metaphorically labelled as display case, catalogue and clock face graphics. These are described, and the features of each explained. The paper concludes with brief reflection on how delineation of the social practices associated with information graphics enables understanding of civil engineering knowledge – and the communication and representation thereof – as socially organized.http://www.aelfe.org/documents/37_06_IBERICA.pdfmultimodal social semioticsinformation graphicsengineering educationsocial practicesNew Literacy Studies |
| spellingShingle | Zach Simpson Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering Ibérica multimodal social semiotics information graphics engineering education social practices New Literacy Studies |
| title | Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering |
| title_full | Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering |
| title_fullStr | Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering |
| title_full_unstemmed | Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering |
| title_short | Display cases, catalogues and clock faces: Multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering |
| title_sort | display cases catalogues and clock faces multimodal social semiotic analysis of information graphics in civil engineering |
| topic | multimodal social semiotics information graphics engineering education social practices New Literacy Studies |
| url | http://www.aelfe.org/documents/37_06_IBERICA.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zachsimpson displaycasescataloguesandclockfacesmultimodalsocialsemioticanalysisofinformationgraphicsincivilengineering |