A Linguistic Approach to Architecture: Geosemiotics and Performativity of the Built Environment

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In this paper, I argue that architecture, like language, is symbolic and communicates meaning. Therefore, architecture can be interpreted linguistically. The architecture in the ancient Southwest is no exception. Buildings were designed, built, and used with meaning. Using the theoretical frameworks of geosemiotics and performativity, I will illustrate that architecture comprises many features like language and that place indexes meaning. I draw on examples across space and time to demonstrate these concepts. Then, I apply these concepts to the architecture found at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. There is so much being communicated through the built environment and linguistics provides viable tools that can aid in the interpretation of that information.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36769.0