Units of Analysis in Continental Semiotics and Linguistic Anthropology

15 June | International workshop organized by Maria Giulia & Constantine Nakassis

Monday

June

2026

9:00 am

5:30 pm

The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme and the Maison Suger are pleased to host this international study day. Convened by Maria Giulia Dondero and Constantine V. Nakassis, it is dedicated to approaches in semiotics and linguistic anthropology.

During this study day it will be discussed the different ways that our disciplinary traditions (Continental Semiotics and American Linguistic Anthropology) conceive of its objects and units of analysis, how we select the "texts" and "contexts" that are relevant for our analyses: How do we segment and organize / hierarchize a complex observed and/or participated situation or process? How do we constitute a corpus or how to justify the choice of analyzing an already institutionally stabilized corpus?

The event will be held in French.

Programme

9am - 9.30am
Welcome

9.30am - 9.45am
Opening remarks by Maria Giulia Dondero and Constatine V. Nakassis

9.45am - 10.20am
Constantine V. Nakassis (University of Chicago)

10.20am - 10.55am
Pierluigi Basso Fossali (University of Bologna)

Break

11.10am - 11.45am
Aurora Donzelli (University of Bologna)

11.45am - 12.15pm
Group discussion (Moderated by Maria Giulia Dondero)

Break

2pm - 2.35pm
Maria Giulia Dondero ((F.R.S.-FNRS/ULiège)

2.35pm - 3.10pm
Eitan Wilf (Hebrew University Jerusalem)

Break

3.25pm - 4pm
Enzo D’Armenio (University of Lorraine)

4pm - 4.35pm
Massimo Leone (University of Turin)

4.35pm - 5.20pm
Group discussion (Moderated by Constantine V. Nakassis)

Maria Giulia Dondero is a Research Director at the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) / University of Liège.

Constantine V. Nakassis is Professor of Anthropology and Social Sciences within the College Faculty (Cinema and Media Studies section), Associate Member of the CHD, faculty member of the CIR, instructor in Digital Studies, and Head of Department. He is a linguistic anthropologist whose work focuses on language in culture, semiotics, film theory, mass media, branding and counterfeit goods, as well as youth culture. His primary area of research is Tamil Nadu in India. He is involved in organising the annual workshop of the Chicago Tamil Forum and is co-editor-in-chief of the journal Semiotic Review.

→ Discover his publications