{"id":10100,"date":"2026-02-27T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=10100"},"modified":"2025-10-12T13:15:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T13:15:15","slug":"looking-at-mihhail-lotmans-article-2017-history-as-geography-part-2-of-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=10100","title":{"rendered":"Looking at Mihhail Lotman’s Article (2017) “History as Geography”\u00a0\u00a0(Part 2 of 8)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

0753 So, we talk about one thing<\/em> (geography) and search for another<\/em> (identity).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each spoken term<\/em> is a placeholder in a system of differences<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least, that is how Ferdinand de Saussure (1859-1913 AD) characterizes spoken language.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spoken language consists of two arbitrarily related systems of differences:<\/em> parole<\/em> (speech act) and langue<\/em> (mental act).  The contiguity between langue as matter2am<\/sub><\/em> and parole as form2af<\/sub><\/em> is purely arbitrary, that is, based on habit and convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, for hand- and hand-speech talk, the contiguity is motivated, not arbitrary.  Each parole<\/em> (gestural word) pictures or points to its langue<\/em> (referent) (except, of course, for word-gestures that have purely grammatical functions, then the referent is purely relational).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0754 The implications?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, that must be a topic for future semiotic inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0755 Instead, I ask, “If each parole<\/em> is a placeholder in a system of differences, then is there a semiotic tool that illuminates adjacent parole<\/em> in that system?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0756 One answer is provided by the Greimas square.  The Greimas square consists of four elements, represented as four corners of a box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first corner, A, is the term under consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second corner, B, contrasts with A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third term, C, contradicts (or “speaks against”) B and complements A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fourth term, D, contrasts with C, speaks against A and complements B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0757 Here is a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

0758 I now ask, “Does the postmodern ground for “geography” associate to Greimas square?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, I suppose that my Russian identity3a<\/sub> is the term under consideration (A).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast (B), what I think2am<\/sub><\/em> takes geography as matter.<\/em> What I say2af<\/sub><\/em> forms geographic indexes that are contextualized by my identity3a<\/sub> operating on my will1a<\/sub> (or maybe, the truth1a<\/sub> of me)<\/em>.  The indexes2af<\/sub> tell me where I am<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0759 My Russian will1a<\/sub> (C) speaks against the dyad (B) of {geography as matter2am<\/sub> [substantiates] indexes as form2af<\/sub>}.  How so?  My will1a<\/sub> can potentiate a diversity of dyads, all taking the structure of {what I think2am<\/sub>[substantiates] what I say2af<\/sub>}.  As such, my will1a<\/sub> complements my identity3a<\/sub>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, standing against my will1a<\/sub> is the truth (that is, the truth1a<\/sub> that should potentiate my identity3a<\/sub>, but obviously does not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I know this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since when does geography2am<\/sub> determine identity3a<\/sub>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0760 Here is a picture that answers that question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

0761 In the abstract, the author contends that spatial parameters<\/em> constitute one of the most important constants in Russian history<\/em>.  Furthermore, this constant<\/em> does not depend on ideology<\/em>.  Instead, ideology<\/em> evaluates this constant<\/em>.  No one contests the dominance of spatiality<\/em>.  Russian ideologies have articulated all theoretical options for contextualizing geography through identity<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0762 What does this imply?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geography2am<\/sub> goes with what I think2am<\/sub><\/em> and serves as matter in B, the contrast to A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, what is geography2am<\/sub> doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is speaking to me.  Not in spoken language.  Rather, it speaks in the words of the divine2af<\/sub>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0763 Geography2am<\/sub> <\/em>gives substance to the ways that I orient myself in the world2af<\/sub><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the following three “B”s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

0764 However, the question remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can matter2am<\/sub> determine normal context3a<\/sub>?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

0753 So, we talk about one thing (geography) and search for another (identity). Each spoken term is a placeholder in a system of differences. At least, that is how Ferdinand de Saussure (1859-1913 AD) characterizes spoken language.   Spoken language consists of two arbitrarily related systems of differences: parole (speech act) and langue (mental act).  The contiguity between langue as matter2am and parole as form2af is purely arbitrary, that is, based on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[418],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article-review"],"yoast_head":"\nLooking at Mihhail Lotman's Article (2017) "History as Geography"\u00a0\u00a0(Part 2 of 8) - An Archaeology of the Fall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=10100\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Looking at Mihhail Lotman's Article (2017) "History as Geography"\u00a0\u00a0(Part 2 of 8) - An Archaeology of the Fall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"0753 So, we talk about one thing (geography) and search for another (identity). 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