Marcel Danesi

Marcel Danesi is a current Professor of Semiotics and Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Toronto. He is known for his work in language, communications, and semiotics; being Director of the Program in semiotics and communication theory. He has also held positions at Rutgers University (1972), University of Rome "La Sapienza" (1988), the Catholic University of Milan (1990), and the University of Lugano.

Background

Marcel Danesi (born Marcello Danesi, 1946) is of Italian descent. He has authored numerous publications which are esteemed in the field of semiotics and advertisement alike.

He has moved from an interest in languages both as a lecturer and an author (including Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way (1985); Adesso: A Functional Introduction to Italian (1992); Con fantasia: A Functional Review of Italian with M. Lettieri and S. Bancheri (1995, 2nd Edition 2003) to an interest in semiotics, continuing research into second-language learning and how language adapts to environment.

He was particularly interested in the Italian community in Southern Ontario where the transplanted language became an ethnic dialect.^{[citation needed]} In making this transition, he has retained in interest in accessibility so his more recent texts aim to strike a balance between theoretical sophistication and user friendliness. For example, Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics is written around a video vignette of modern day courtship rituals, relating theory to cultural contexts that most can identify with. While he does not explain how his selections from social history illuminate semiosis, nor demonstrate how readers might practice the theories of Saussure or Charles Peirce, the book has become a popular introductory text among students. He is also interested in improving understanding of how to structure remedial mathematics tuition which has led him into a study of the puzzle as a semiotic phenomenon through history.^{[citation needed]}

He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1998, founded a research center (Center for Communication and Information Sciences) and is currently the editor in chief of Semiotica.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Danesi is married to his longtime sweetheart. His family, consisting of a daughter, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren, resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is currently a professor at the University of Toronto. His son-in-law is an urban geography professor.^{[citation needed]}

He is an avid musician/pianist with a great love of classical musicians like Bach, Beethoven and Mozart as well as contemporary musicians. Danesi is also a composer who has authored songs and performed with a band called the 'Semiotones', a band composed mainly of students from the University of Toronto. They give all the proceeds to The Hospital for Sick Children. Danesi plays piano for the band.

Publications

His publications include:

• Neurolinguistica e glottodidattica (1988)
• Cervello, lingua, ed educazione (1988)
• Vico, Metaphor and the Origin of Language. Bloomingdon: Indiana University Press (1993)
• Cool: The Signs and Meanings of Adolescence. University of Toronto Press (1994)
• Giambattista Vico and the Cognitive Science Enterprise. (Emory Vico Studies edited series, Volume 4). New York: Peter Lang Publishing (1995)
• Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics (Semaphores and Signs). New York: Palgrave (1999)
• Analyzing Cultures: An Introduction and Handbook (Advances in Semiotics), with Paul Perron. Bloomingdon: Indiana University Press (1999)
• The Forms of Meaning: Modeling Systems Theory and Semiotic Analysis with Thomas A. Sebeok. Mouton de Gruyter (2000)
• Encyclopedic Dictionary of Semiotics, Media, and Communications (2000)
• The Puzzle Instinct: The Meaning of Puzzles in Human Life. Bloomingdon: Indiana University Press (2002)
• Forever Young: The Teen-Aging of Modern Culture. University of Toronto Press (2003)
• La metafora nel pensiero e nel linguaggio (2003)
• The Liar Paradox and the Towers of Hanoi: The Ten Greatest Math Puzzles of All Time. Wiley (2004)
• Messages, Signs, and Meanings: A Basic Semiotic Textbook in Semiotics and Communication Theory (2004)
• A Basic Course in Anthropological Linguistics (2004)
• The Conceptual Basis of Syntax: An Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics. Rome: Aracne editrice (2005)
• Brands (2006)
• The Quest for Meaning: A Guide to Semiotic Theory and Practice. University of Toronto Press (2007)
• Popular Culture: Introductory Perspectives. Rowman & Littlefield (2008)
• Language, Society, and Culture: Introducing Anthropological Linguistics. Canadian Scholars Press Inc. (2008)
• "That's Puzzling!" supplemental section of the Toronto Star (2011–present)