Victoria Lady Welby

Abstract

Abstract Victoria Welby’s theory of meaning, significs, is a philosophy of significance, interpretation, translation. What is its relationship to other language sciences, particularly philosophy of language and semiotics? Significs is philosophy of language where “language” is not limited to verbal language. What contribution does significs make to sign, language, and communication studies? In addition to its interest in the history of ideas, is significs still valid in theoretical terms? Is it still topical? With “significs,” Welby differentiates her approach from others developing under such denominations as “semantics,” “sematology,” “semiology,” and “sem(e)iotic.” Significs transcends strictly linguistic and gnoseological-cognitive boundaries to study signs and language at the crossroads where signs, language and values, ultimately signification and behavior, unite and are scrutinized at the margins of different disciplines. The question, “What is meaning?” gave Welby’s 1903 book its title and inspired all her research.