The problem of determination of cognitive and semiotic functions: notion – concept, sign – simulacrum

The paper focuses on logical relations between the terms concept and notion as well as sign and simulacrum in an anthropocentric conception of cognitive and language worldpictures. The author sets apart the first two terms on the basis of semantics and pragmatics considering notion as a semantic information unit and concept – as a cultural-pragmatic unit. The author suggests that the terms sign and simulacrum should be distinguished the same way: sign is every function that aims to semiotize a notion, whereas simulacrum is a sign, the pragmatics of which is of mythmakingcharacter, i.e. aims to create a simulation of verity of information during communication.

Does the Wawel Dragon prefer sushi? The semiosphere of the vision of a multicultural city in the 21st century in the artistic works of school students from Krakow

In this text, a semiotic perspective was used to analyze the artistic works of students from Krakow schools submitted to the competition entitled “A multicultural city in the 21st century”. Assuming that the condition for the semiotics of the city are social processes leading to the recognition of objects in urban space as signs, the text is aimed to answer the question: what signs and codes constitute the semiosphere of works taking part in the competition? The analysis shows that the participants creatively used signs rooted in the tradition of Krakow, modifying their meaning by placing them in new syntagmatic systems with signs from other cultural codes. These works also show that the impact of cultural interactions is related to an exchange of signs and the dynamic process of reassigning their meanings. They also illustrate other sociocultural mechanisms taking place in the conditions of multi – and interculturalism. One of them is the simple multiplication of various “cultural packages”, and another – the diverse and dynamic interactions and the interweaving of the multiple elements that make up the entire intercultural space.