Annual Report, 12/7/2025

 

 

 

I haven't done one of these in quite a while.  My timing I guess has been thrown off. It can't have been the Covid thing, can it, which for me was really the Psoriasis thing; well maybe that's it. That stopped everything even my reading. 

Anyway, let me say this just to start. My almost daily attendance at my Group, 'Grounded and Connected', an online AA meeting with it's homebase in PEI Canada, has been going on for some time now, since the beginning of Covid, when I didn't catch Covid but came down with a horrendous case of Psoriasis, about which I have elaborated in previous posts and won't re-elaborate here, except to say that I bitched and complained, and struggled to get back in to a reading rhythm, but instead got into an obsession with the medical aspects of my disease, to the point where I was daring to go beyond High School Chemistry, which I did not excel in, and, and....Oh, Yeah! [Only to say that the aforesaid meeting has become a great comfort and joy to me, even aside from it being almost Christmas.]  

 

Sometime after beginning a plunge into Anzieu's, The Skin, I got seduced..., er, ahem, (now I flash on Foghorn Leghorn), "I say, I say, boy; did you say SEDUCED?"  Yes I guess so because I've read quite a bit about it by now, that is to say Semiotics. I've listed some if not all of the books having to do with the skin, [which, by the way, has segued, rather smoothly, into pre-natal developmental psychology and psychoanalysis] ...so don't let me repeat that; let's go directly to a list having to do with Semiotics. 

The following books I've read;  Introducing Semiotics, A Graphic Guide, by Paul Cobley;  

 Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art  Julia Kristeva;   

Handbook of Semiotics, Winfried Noth;  

 Dialogic Semiosis, An Essay on Signs and Meanings, Jorgan Dines Johansen, 

Introducing Semiotics, It's History and Doctrine, by John Deely, 

.....and I've bought copies of but haven't yet read The Essential Pierce, Voume 1 (1867-1893): Selected Philosophical Writings, edited by Nathan Houser. And I hope to upgrade my understanding so that one day I can read my copy of Umberto Eco's A Theory of Semiotics. ...So I guess Semiotics is my new hobby.  

For unrelated reading I'm reading Canetti on Crowds after having read LeBon on crowds; and finding that Canetti doesn't even refer to LeBon and he gets away with it, because, I guess, he's such a better writer.  

And now, my Annual Report is up to date, except to say that this month I'll be 83,  (Dec. 28), and am due for, and hope to get, a second hip replacement, for my left hip, so's I'll be symmetrical.    

 

 

 

 

Words to Look Up to

Below are some words that have come up in recent reading, words I'll probably never use in my everyday vocabulary, especially since I never talk to anyone. 

 

 antinomy 

Examples of antinomy in a Sentence-

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More

Unlike Hilbert’s hotel and the birthday paradox, Russell’s antinomy is not a result that merely eludes our intuition. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 15 Aug. 2024 The antinomies of male and female, and the product of their union, seem very much on his mind during this period. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023 The great Russian sociologist Yuri Levada theorized that antinomies—pairs of mutually exclusive beliefs—were key to understanding the Soviet totalitarian mentality. —Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 15 June 2023 By obliterating Twitter’s attempts at resolving the irreconcilable antinomy between good and bad virality, Musk has only ensured that the Chinese government can engage in viral spam to defeat viral attempts at amplifying domestic protests of CCP’s zero-Covid biosecurity regime. —WIRED, 1 Dec. 2022 

 

abductive 

[Wikipedia]  Abductive reasoning (also called abduction,^[1] abductive inference,^[1] or retroduction^[2]) is a form of logical inference that seeks the simplest and most likely conclusion from a set of observations. It was formulated and advanced by American philosopher and logician Charles Sanders Peirce beginning in the latter half of the 19th century.

Abductive reasoning, unlike deductive reasoning, yields a plausible conclusion but does not definitively verify it. Abductive conclusions do not eliminate uncertainty or doubt, which is expressed in terms such as "best available" or "most likely". While inductive reasoning draws general conclusions that apply to many situations, abductive conclusions are confined to the particular observations in question.

In the 1990s, as computing power grew, the fields of law,^[3] computer science, and artificial intelligence research^[4] spurred renewed interest in the subject of abduction.^[5] Diagnostic expert systems frequently employ abduction.^[6]

 

colloquia  [ Mirriam Webster]  plural colloquiums or colloquia kə-ˈlō-kwē-ə 

Synonyms of colloquium

: a usually academic meeting at which specialists deliver addresses on a topic or on related topics and then answer questions relating to them

… a nine-session scholar-led colloquium to introduce teachers to literary texts by and about minorities …

constructivism

noun 

• 1. a style or movement in which assorted mechanical objects are combined into abstract mobile structural forms. The movement originated in Russia in the 1920s and has influenced many aspects of modern architecture and design.
• 2. a view which admits as valid only constructive proofs and entities demonstrable by them, implying that the latter have no independent existence.

 

emergence 

In philosophy, systems theory, science, and art, emergence occurs when a complex entity has properties or behaviors that its parts do not have on their own, and emerge only when they interact in a wider whole. Wikipedia

epigone

[Mirriam Webster]  English borrowed "epigone" from German in the 19th century. The Germans themselves had taken the word from the Latin epigonus, which means "successor." The Latin term followed the Greek epigonos, which was often used in plural to designate the sons of seven legendary Greek leaders who were defeated at Thebes. "Epigonos" in turn came from the Greek verb epigignesthai, meaning "to be born after." "Epi-" can mean "after," and gignesthai means "to be born."

...etymology;  English borrowed "epigone" from German in the 19th century. The Germans themselves had taken the word from the Latin epigonus, which means "successor." The Latin term followed the Greek epigonos, which was often used in plural to designate the sons of seven legendary Greek leaders who were defeated at Thebes. "Epigonos" in turn came from the Greek verb epigignesthai, meaning "to be born after." "Epi-" can mean "after," and gignesthai means "to be born."

 

fascicolation

A fasciculation, or muscle twitch, is a spontaneous, involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation, involving fine muscle fibers. They are common, with as many as 70% of people experiencing them. They can be benign, or associated with more serious conditions. When no cause or pathology is identified, they are diagnosed as 'benign fasciculation syndrome.'  Wikipedia 

 

imbrication 

AI Summary

To understand the meaning of "imbrication," consider the following points:

• Imbrication refers to the overlapping arrangement of objects or elements.
• It is commonly used in geology to describe the layering of sedimentary rocks.
• In biology, it can describe the overlapping of scales or feathers in animals.
• The term is also applied in architecture to describe overlapping roof tiles.
• Imbrication can signify a pattern of interlocking or interweaving in various contexts.
• It emphasizes the concept of layering and structural support in design and nature.      

 

integument 

/inˈteɡyəmənt/

noun

• 1. a tough outer protective layer, especially that of an animal or plant: "this chemical compound is found in the integument of the seed"

 

isomorphic 

a.   ...being of identical or similar form, shape, or structure

isomorphic crystals

b. ...having sporophytic and gametophytic generations alike in size and shape

metonyme 

Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close association. In fact, metonymy means “change of name.” As a literary device, it is a way of replacing an object or idea with something related to it instead of stating what is actually meant. Metonymy enables writers to express a word or thought in a different way by using a closely related word or thought. Therefore, this is a method for writers to vary their expression and produce an effect for the reader. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close association. In fact, metonymy means “change of name.” As a literary device, it is a way of replacing an object or idea with something related to it instead of stating what is actually meant. Metonymy enables writers to express a word or thought in a different way by using a closely related word or thought. Therefore, this is a method for writers to vary their expression and produce an effect for the reader.    

 

nugatory 

1: of little or no consequence : trifling, inconsequential

comments too nugatory to merit attention

2: having no force : inoperative

The law was unenforced and thus rendered nugatory. 

oneiric

onei·​ric  

ō-ˈnī-rik :  of, relating to, or suggestive of dreams : dreamy

The frieze is the most arresting feature of the exterior, not only for its colors and the oneiric forms of the irises but for the way it encompasses the structure of the house.

William Craft Brumfield

 

paranomasia 

Paronomasia is a rhetorical device that can be defined as a phrase intentionally used to exploit the confusion between words having similar sounds but different meanings.  ...also, as in word-play, or pun.  

quotidion 

adjective:

1. occurring as part of the normal or expected order of things; usual or customary; everyday. Her biographer delved into the most routine and quotidian parts of her life to paint a fuller picture of his subject.

2. of no special quality or interest; ordinary; commonplace.

   His paintings are pleasant to look at, but show nothing more than quotidian talent.

3. done, happening, or given daily.

   We recommend quotidian dialysis for the patient.

4. (of a fever or disease) characterized by the recurring daily intensification of symptoms.

   Malarial fevers tend to be quotidian, with daily attacks lasting up to 12 hours before abating.

reflexivity 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia;

In epistemology, and more specifically, the sociology of knowledge, reflexivity refers to circular relationships between cause and effect, especially as embedded in human belief structures. A reflexive relationship is multi-directional when the causes and the effects affect the reflexive agent in a layered or complex sociological relationship. The complexity of this relationship can be furthered when epistemology includes religion.

Within sociology more broadly—the field of origin—reflexivity means an act of self-reference where existence engenders examination, by which the thinking action "bends back on", refers to, and affects the entity instigating the action or examination. It commonly refers to the capacity of an agent to recognise forces of socialisation and alter their place in the social structure. A low level of reflexivity would result in individuals shaped largely by their environment (or "society"). A high level of social reflexivity would be defined by individuals shaping their own norms, tastes, politics, desires, and so on. This is similar to the notion of autonomy. (See also structure and agency and social mobility.) 

 

Teleodynamic   

How does life emerge in a world that moves lawfully toward disorder? Some have answered this question by suggesting that life is a “self-organizing” process. Self-organizing phenomena, like a whirlpool in a bathtub, produce order by turning the law of increasing entropy against itself. They are systems in which ordered forms may emerge locally in order to increase the rate of entropy production globally. The problem is that these self-organizing processes are also self-undermining: they always exhaust the boundary conditions that make them possible. A whirlpool helps the water drain faster, making the vortex disappear. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isomorphic

 

The following is something I found on-line and I'm in the process of crediting it to the appropriate source....  TP, 9/10/25   ...(it's over my head but I'm fascinated and will try to learn more....)

 .......ScienceDirect.       

Biosystems

Volume 44, Issue 1, September 1997, Pages 17-39

 

AI Summary

To understand isomorphism in human languages, consider the following points:

1. Isomorphism refers to structural similarities between different languages.
2. It highlights how diverse languages can express similar meanings through different forms.
3. Linguistic isomorphism can be observed in syntax, morphology, and phonetics.
4. It aids in comparative linguistics, helping to identify language families and relationships.
5. Isomorphism can influence language learning by revealing universal patterns.
6. It also plays a role in translation, where maintaining meaning across languages is crucial.

 

-   Isomorphism and Human Languages

 

Biosystems

Volume 44, Issue 1, September 1997, Pages 17-39

 

Abstract

The concept of cell language has been defined in molecular terms. The molecule-based cell language is shown to be isomorphic with the sound- and visual signal-based human language with respect to ten out of the 13 design features of human language characterized by Hockett. Biocybernetics, a general molecular theory of living systems developed over the past two and a half decades, is found to provide a physical theory underlying the phenomenon of cell language. The concept of cell language integrates bioenergetics and bioinformatics on the one hand and reductionistic and holistic experimental data on the other to account for living processes on the molecular level. The isomorphism between cell and human languages suggests that the DNA of higher eucaryotes contains two classes of genes—structural genes corresponding to the lexicon and `spatiotemporal genes' corresponding to the grammar of cell language. The former is located in coding regions of DNA and the latter is predicted to reside primarily in noncoding regions. The grammar of cell language is identified with the mapping of the nucleotide sequences of DNA onto its 4-dimensional folding patterns that control the spatiotemporal evolution of gene expression. Such a mapping has been referred to as the second genetic code, in contrast to the first genetic code which maps nucleotide triplets onto amino acids. The cell language theory introduces into biology the linguistic principle of `rule-governed creativity,' leading to the formulation of the concept of `rule-governed creative molecules' or `creatons.' This concept sheds new light on molecular biology, bioinformatics, protein folding, and developmental biology. In addition, the cell language theory suggests that human language is ultimately founded on cell language.

 

Introduction

Language is a means of communication (Martinet, 1960 p. 29; Lyons, 1993 pp. 32–41). Since cells in multicellular organisms must communicate with one another for survival, development, and normal functioning, they must possess a language of their own, here called cell language. Kordon (1993) may be the first to suggest the possible existence of cell language in his book, The Language of the Cell, where he discussed the major experimental findings on cell communication that have accumulated in the literature during the past several decades. These findings provide an empirical basis for postulating the existence of cell language (see Section 4). The main objectives of this paper are three-fold: (1) to establish the concept of cell language by demonstrating the isomorphism between cell and human languages; (2) to introduce biocybernetics as a physical theory of cell language; and (3) to apply the theory of cell language to select problems in molecular biology, bioinformatics, protein folding, developmental biology, and linguistics.

 

Section snippets

 

Human language

Language is generally acknowledged as the most complex phenomenon that has ever emerged in the human society. Because of its complexity, no simple definition of human language can be complete. The following are some of the diverse definitions of human language to be found in the literature (e.g. see Lyons, 1992b, pp. 3–8):

• Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols (Sapir, 1921).
• A language consists

 

 

Cell language—A definition

The definition of language given by Saussure (Hawkes, 1977, Culler, 1991, Saussure, 1994) motivated the following conceptualization of cell language:

Cell language is a self-organizing system of molecules, some of which encode, act as signs for, or trigger, gene-directed cell processes.

The key alterations that have been made to transform the Saussurean definition of human language into that of cell language are:

1.       Substitution of signs with molecules,

2. Replacement of concepts with gene-directed cell..

 

Cell language—Experimental basis

Cell language can be identified with the totality of the regularities found in the cell-to-cell communication and associated intracellular processes. These regularities may be grouped into several categories using linguistics as a model. Human language consists of: (1) lexicon (vocabulary); (2) grammar (rules that define the way the basic units of a language are combined to form words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.); (3) Phonetics; (study of speech sounds as physical entities) and phonology.

 

The isomorphism between human and cell languages

In the systems theory pioneered by Bertalanffy (1968), two systems are regarded to be isomorphic, if similar concepts or principles are found to operate in both of them. In this sense, there exists an isomorphism between human and cell languages at two levels—at the level of global structure (Lyons, 1992a, pp. 53–54), and at the level of design features (Hockett, 1960).

As mentioned previously, the structure of human language can be characterized in terms of two planes (Expression or Form versus..)

 

Biocybernetics as the physical theory of cell language

Cell language is a biological phenomenon exhibited by living cells. This phenomenon requires a physical theory to be accounted for, just as the phenomenon of human language requires a linguistic theory to explain it, such as Saussure's theory of language.. (Culler, 1991, Saussure, 1994) and Chomsky's generative grammar.. (Chomsky, 1995, Lyons, 1992b, pp. 228–237; Harris, 1993). Biocybernetics, which has been developed during the past two decades as a general molecular theory of life.. (Ji, 1991),

 

Molecular biology

If cell language is isomorphic with human language as suggested in this paper, it is reasonable to assume that, like human language, cell language possesses a lexicon and a grammar. It was suggested elsewhere (Ji, 1996, Ji, 1997a, Ji, 1997b) that the lexicon of cell language can be identified with the set of protein-coding and associated genes that are transcribed into RNA, while the grammar of cell language can be identified with the rules by which nucleotide sequences of (most likely  TKTKTK

 

/Conclusion

The existence of cell language is supported by the isomorphism found between cell and human languages. In The Language of the Cell, Kordon (1993) provided a convenient summary of the major experimental observations on cell communication, from which a set of 14 regularities in biological information processing was formulated. These regularities served as the major experimental basis for postulating the existence of cell language. The phenomenon of cell language finds its underlying theory in......

 

Acknowledgements

I thank Ms. Jaehyun Lee for stimulating discussions and for her insightful comments and encouragement.