Towards the built environment linguistics
Publication Date
2008
Creator
Abstract
In the history of the built environments theoretical development, the architecture, city and landscape have all been considered as language. Differing from subjects and scholars, various built environment languages have existed, durably or ephemerally. Some stressed the structure of languages and extracted the built environment dictionaries; some emphasized the linguistic characteristics of language and compiled the built environment grammar. They are all great achievements in built environment theory; however, since the connatural difference between the tangible buildings and the intangible spoken & written languages, this concept - the built environment languages - are still esoteric and intricate for the public.
Facing this problem, this research intends to probe an integrated built environment language and to uncover the essence and mechanism of the built environment language. Undoubtedly, a comprehensive literature review is the foundation before any further development. Through careful study about both the structural linguistics - semiology system and previous built environment language studies, it is conspicuous that a universal built environment linguistics framework can be established referring to the knowledge of structural linguistics and semiology. Hereinto, firstly the built environment can be looked as a 'langage' that contains the corresponding 'langue' and 'parole' then other binary linguistic concepts, including the "signifier & signified"‚ "isologic sign & non-isologic sign", "syntagmatic axis & systematic axis" and "synchronic aspect & diachronic aspect", can be introduced into this new field. Therefore, based on this framework, not only can the essence and mechanism of built environment linguistics be explained, but also all the previous studies about the languages of architecture, urban planning and landscape can be seamlessly embedded inside. After the theoretical analysis, a discreetly designed simulation test is prepared to verify the practicability of built environment linguistics. Its results can then provide strong support from pragmatic dimension.
Finally, the foundation of a theory of universal built environment linguistics can be achieved, but to be same as all other scientific researches, what is completed here is just a beginning rather than an end.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
Department of Architecture and Built Environment (UK)
eprints ID
10508
UoN Repository URI
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