Chapter 1. Towards a protyposis-based semiotic theory of translation

Abstract

This contribution presents a semiotic theory of translation based on protyposis that bridges the gap between quantum physics, semiotics, and translation studies. Protyposis, an elementary quantum structure, underlies all possibilities for generating meaningful information. The theory critiques traditional notions of information and examines its development from the communication theory of Shannon and Weaver to more complex biosemiotic perspectives. It addresses the interplay between protyposis and semiotic processes and shows how meaning emerges from relationships and functions that go beyond the quantum level. It integrates Marais’ work on semiotic translation theory, which proposes translation as a negentropic semiotic process that works within constraints to create relations. The study culminates in the advocacy of a transdisciplinary approach underpinned by protyposis to comprehensively understand the complexity of translation and information processes, opening a new perspective for understanding communication, perception and knowledge construction in different scientific fields.