The proceedings of the 1988 Semiotic Society of America annual meeting explore the multifaceted nature of signs and symbols across diverse academic disciplines. This volume compiles 77 contributions, organized into twenty-one sections that span theoretical frameworks, psychological and philosophical perspectives, and applications in fields such as music, computer science, literature, film, art, and culture. The collection highlights the work of scholars examining semiotic models, Peircean semiotics, and the semiotics of deception, gender, and memory, offering a comprehensive overview of the state of semiotic inquiry in 1988.

This collection represents a significant archival record of semiotic scholarship from 1988, bringing together a broad spectrum of research presented at the Semiotic Society of America's annual meeting. The extensive range of topics, from theoretical underpinnings to specific applications in arts, sciences, and humanities, suggests a work of considerable depth and breadth for specialists in the field. The inclusion of sessions dedicated to Charles S. Peirce indicates a strong grounding in foundational semiotic theory. The volume serves as a valuable resource for understanding the discourse and research trends within semiotics during that period.