The study of truth conditions represented by sign systems such as language, logic, or visual image
Cartographic design conveys prescribed meaning of a map as intended by the cartographer and pragmatic meaning derived by map readers and users. Map semantics includes aspects of human cognitive functions, arrangements of syntactic signs, and social learning.
Before the digital transition in cartography, theory concluded that a meaning of a map of any representational type is selected by the map user. Digital cartography offers new opportunities to encode semantics for human and machine readability.
Maps used for propaganda purposes; maps depicting a particular perspective at the expense of others; maps central to a particular group of people.
Though meaning pervades all cartography, methods for semantic analysis help clarify the unchanging message behind varying syntactic arrangements of sign systems.
Semiotics, symbolism, proposition, predication
Differentiate semantic meaning from syntactic representation
Apply semantic analysis methods
Apply cartographic design for semantic intention
Validation through map use; validation of meaning interpreted by others; identify the role of the map in society