Toward computational aspects of text semiotics

This paper deals with the connotative meaning aspect of texts. It proposes a uniform representational format for the structural meaning of language signs belonging to different strata. In this connection some principles of structural meaning constitution are identified: whereas the level of lexical meaning is described relating to the two-stage process of meaning constitution (based on syntagmatics and paradigmatics), text meaning constitution is described using the Gestalt theoretical concept of the dependence system. As a consequence, meaning constitution appears as a circular process: texts are potentially able to modify the systematic meanings of their constituents.