The well-known functional and cognitive linguist Prof. Peter Harder, who was one of those who initiated "the social term" in cognitive linguistics, will visit us to present his recent research on the meaning of music, integrating ideas from linguistics and cognitive semiotics. All are warmly welcome to the room, or to the zoom link with cameras on, from 15:00 for introductions.

The question of what meaning music conveys is an ancient and unresolved issue. Central to discussions have been the relation between meaning in language and meaning in music: In spite of obvious differences, the challenge remains of providing an account that could place the two areas as elements of the same overall picture. Based on a recent paper in cognitive semiotics (Harder, 2025) I suggest an approach based on advances in functional-cognitive linguistics on the one hand and cognitive semiotics on the other. 

From functional-cognitive linguistics it draws on two key elements: (1) a division between three sites of meaning, rather than a monolithic approach, recognizing that meaning in actual usage events, in individual brains, and in society cannot be reduced to one thing. (2) A division in actual usage events between ‘input’ and ‘meaning construction’, stressing the constitutive role of the recipient in understanding the nature of meaning. From cognitive semiotics it draws on the model known as the Semiotic Hierarchy (e.g. Zlatev & Konderak 2023). The key point is the understanding of the nature of meaning as a broader and more fundamental property than found in the linguistic tradition.

Harder, P. (2025). The semiotic properties of music–a perspective from functional-cognitive semantics. Cognitive Semiotics, 18(1), 1-21.

Zlatev, J., & Konderak, P. (2023). Consciousness and semiosis. In J. Pelkey (Ed.) Bloomsbury Semiotics Volume 1: History and Semiosis, (pp. 169-191) Bloomsbury.