Rethinking semiotics: Toward a theory of intentional sign

Sign involves a relation between two correlatives established essentially by an act of mental associating. An adequate theory of sign should regard sign as a process based on such an act. A theory of intentional sign thus formed may serve as an example of the approach to such a theory. Every intentional sign process involves five basic factors and multiple stages, whose variation results in various types of processes. Processes of the same sign-vehicle form an autonomous system covering most basic topics of semiotics. Process systems of different sign-vehicles are interconnected via relation between the sign-vehicles, forming a system of systems generally called “sign system.” This theory may be further expanded into a fuller framework.