Interpretive Semantics and Textometry

Abstract

Interpretive Semantics and Textometry
This article bases itself on a recurrent and informal conversation
between François Rastier and the author of the article concerning
the pertinence of a textometric approach toward interpretive
semiotics.
In a first approach, textometry seems to be condemned to an
overly hackneyed representation of the text: a bag of words
(which are themselves understood as simple chains of
characters), eventual elimination of the hapax (that can be
places of meaningful singularities), quantitative statistical
treatment…Yet on the other hand, according to François Rastier
himself, there is a notable experience of observing how the
calculation of interval-reduction brings out, in the same text,
the key forms for the interpretation of a Maupassant novel. There
is also the “interpretive influence” the enriching results of
Mathieu Valette´s thesis with the hyperbase and those of Damon
Mayaffre. Thus, can we locate the essential adjustments between
interpretive semantic theory and the founding principles of the
textometric approach? The central place of the texts in all of
the stages of analysis, the concern of remaining as close as
possible to the text and avoid all reducing preconceptions,
the determinant role of the global context constructed from the
reference corpus, the differential functioning of the contrastive
calculations like the selections… the wager would be to see if
we can can make a balance of these strong connivances.
Finally textometry recently raises some new proposals and
some new developments. Without a doubt, interpretive semiotics
can nurture underlying theoretical reflection and participate
equally in the conception of pertinent functionalities and in the
elaboration of methodological references and the finishing
touches on the interfaces. Thus, it is a framework of an activity
of exploring around the corpus for textometry and interpretive
semantics alike and how a meaning is constructed and affirmed
little by little.