Published: 2018-12-211

Toward the Language of Reciprocal Space Maps

Adrian Sulich
Humanities and Natural Sciences
Section: articles
https://doi.org/10.31648/hip.2632

Abstract

The article is a linguistic study of reciprocal space maps as figures applied in contemporary scientific language to represent X-ray diffraction by a crystal lattice. The sources of the researched material were crystallographic texts. The analysis shows that investigated signs have a non-linear mixed text structure based mainly on a visual code. They have objective, metalinguistic and metatextual components. Decoding of the investigated semiotic objects is a complicated process involving recognition of presuppositions, system-based information and implications. The crystallographic literature overview indicates that there are a variety of reciprocal space map forms. The most popular of these are discussed with a proposal for their standardization, which would be helpful for the development of linguistic economy in scientific discourse. The literature overview also shows that, apart from reciprocal space maps, there are many other kinds of two-dimensional iconic signs used for X-ray diffraction representation. They are intended to constitute a semiotic macro system; this may be an interesting topic for future studies.

Keywords:

specialist language, reciprocal space map, iconic sign, mixed text, sign optimization, semiotic system

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Citation rules

Sulich, A. (2018). Toward the Language of Reciprocal Space Maps. Humanities and Natural Sciences, (24), 519–562. https://doi.org/10.31648/hip.2632

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