A.J. Greimas and the Nature of Meaning: Linguistics, Semiotics and Discourse Theory by Kenneth J. Reckford (review)

252Rocky Mountain Review must be a vibrant delight. His present book on Aristophanes certainly is. We await in expectant awe its sequel, to be entitled Clouds ofGlory. WILLIAM H. HESS University of Utah RONALD SCHLEIFER. A.J. Greimas and the Nature ofMeaning : Linguistics, Semiotics and Discourse Theory. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1987. 223 p. In Schleifer's words, his purpose is to "describe the project of the career of A.J. Greimas in linguistics, semiotics, and discourse theory, his overriding attempt to 'account for' or 'make sense of the phenomenon of signification in human affairs" (xviii). In so describing, the author presents one or two of Greimas' major works in each chapter and examines their significance in relation to other influential theories of the times. In the first chapter, "Semiotics and Language: An Analytical Dictionary," the author sets forth the rationale for the creation of the dictionary which establishes a metalanguage for understanding of Greimas' and other structuralists' work. Paralleling the conventional breakdown of linguistics into morphology, syntax, and semantics, the book is then divided into linguistics , semiotics, and discourse theory. In chapter 2, for instance, the author first defines structuralism and then illustrates how Greimas in Structural Semantics integrates methods and assumptions of the major structuralist schools of linguistics: Prague, Copenhagen, and Bloomfieldian. Schleifer presents the concept of isotopy, a term associated with Greimas' early work, which presents a means to account for a "sense of discourse" (76). In chapter 3 he moves to a focus on semiotics by examining what Greimas refers to as the level of "Semio-narrative structures" (85). Through this level, he attempts to integrate system and process in contrast with Chomsky who separates them into "hierarchically distinct levels" (85). Chapter 4, "Maupassant and Semiotique et Sciences Sociales: Discourse and Narrativity," examines the relationship between the semio-narrative structures and discursive structures in a search for various interlinking threads which account for signification. This relationship forms a basic premise of semiotic theory, and thus an essential element in Greimas' work. In the final chapter, entitled "Avatars of Semiotics: Greimas and Poststructualism," Schleifer analyzes "the appropriating power of language —its ability to take up and put aside anything at hand for the sake of its meanings" (163). The author explores the "crisis" in semiotics which he attributes to "a crisis in the hierarchical structure of linguistics, semiotics and discourse theory" (168) and then illustrates how the deconstructionist or post-structuralist work of Jacques Derrida, Jacques Lacan, and Paul de Man relates to the work of Greimas. Schleifer's work is a timely account of an important structuralist theorist whose work cannot be discarded in light of post-structuralist critique. Schleifer points out that Greimas was actually able to anticipate future critiques of projects like his own. With the current focus on post-structuralism, this book may give insight into exactly how Greimas' theory may overlap, rather than contrast, with that of the deconstructionists. Schleifer's ability to draw on numerous works, Book Reviews253 comparing theories and terms is admirable. He gives extensive opportunity for the scholar to pursue further research through references to related works, often across disciplines. It is perhaps the complexity of the work which constitutes its weaknesses. First, the book is geared to an audience which is well grounded in theoretical linguistics. This work is quite unlike John Lyon's work on Chomsky which offered those who were familiar with Chomsky an avenue through which they could gain access to the important concepts of his work and thus gain confidence to tackle the original. Secondly, the author attempts to integrate the work of other theorists with that of Greimas. In order to do so, he had to introduce distinctions in terminology attributable to each theorist. Take for example, "immanence" and "manifestation" or "langue and parole" which he explains Hjelmslev describes as "system" and "process" and Chomsky refers to as "competence" and "performance" (82). Although such distinctions are necessary to situate Greimas' work in its intellectual context, one must continually refer back to definitions to assure proper interpretation. In sum, Ronald Schleifer is to be applauded for the compilation of Greimas' work in relation to its intellectual context and the examination of the...