Z8172 Semiotics in cartography

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Bc. Zdeněk Stachoň, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Gabriela Godišková (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bc. Zdeněk Stachoň, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Bc. Zdeněk Stachoň, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Thu 13:00–14:50 Z3,02045
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
Z8172/01: Wed 10:00–10:50 Z1,01001b, G. Godišková, Z. Stachoň
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of cartography and geoinformatics presented in the bachelor studies (Geography and Cartography).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 12/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce the fundamentals of map semiotics and toponomastics as important means of social communication of spatial data, information acquisition, and knowledge creation. In the part focused on map semiotics, the course concentrates on the logic of map symbol design, the general theory of sign systems, and the relationship between the content of information and its forms of expression. Emphasis is placed on the user and functional aspects of sign systems, particularly in the processes of map design, interpretation, and understanding. In the part devoted to toponomastics, students will become familiar with the origin, development, and meaning of geographical names, their social and cultural context, and the need for standardization of geographical nomenclature. Attention is given to the interpretation, understanding, and differentiation of geographical names and their practical use in mapmaking.
Learning outcomes
The student, after completing the course:
- understands the fundamental principles of map semiotics and toponomastics and their importance for the social communication of spatial information,
- explains the relationship between the content, form, and function of a map symbol,
- applies the principles of map semiotics in map design and interpretation,
- understands the need for the standardization of geographical nomenclature and its implications for cartographic practice,
- integrates theoretical knowledge of map semiotics and toponomastics with the practical aspects of mapmaking.
Syllabus
At the beginning of the course, the fundamental concepts of map semiotics, cartographic language, and map symbol are defined, with attention also given to the development of conceptual approaches to the construction of sign systems. This is followed by an overview of key theoretical concepts in cartography. The next part of the course focuses on linguistic conceptions of the map, including the basic criteria for organizing the cartographic language with respect to user-oriented aspects. Students become familiar with the structure of the map legend, the semantics of map symbols, and the principles of morphography, including morphographic operations. Attention is also devoted to map syntax—projection, map framework, locational and typification principles—and to the diversity of map styles, from historical to contemporary. In the section devoted to toponomastics, the basic concepts of onomastics and toponomastics are explained, the system of geographical names is characterized, and the classification of toponymic types in Czech is described. The course further explores the semantic dimension of toponyms, the origin, development, and meaning of geographical names, and the principles of their standardization. Students also become acquainted with the issue of cartographic languages of the world and with various methods of transcription and transliteration of geographical names. The final part of the course focuses on the graphic aspects of map lettering and labeling, as well as on working with toponymic source materials of historical, geographical, cartographic, and dialectal nature.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BERTIN, Jacques. Semiology of graphics : diagrams, networks, maps. Translated by William J. Berg. 1st ed. Redlands, Calif.: ESRI Press, 2011, xv, 438. ISBN 9781589482616. info
  • ECO, Umberto. Semiotics and the philosophy of language. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1986. ISBN 0253203988. info
  • SEDLÁČEK, Marek. Eco, Umberto. Teorie sémiotiky (A Theory of Semiotics) (A Theory of Semiotics). (Translated by Marek Sedláček). 1st ed. Brno: JAMU, 2004, 410 pp. JAMU. ISBN 80-85429-99-3. info
  • LÓPEZ-VARELA, Azcárate. Intermedial semiotics in the age of artificial intelligence: challenges and opportunities for the arts. New Techno Humanities. 2023, vol. 3, No 2, p. 108-116. info
    not specified
  • Pravda, Ján. Základy koncepcie mapového jazyka. Bratislava: Geografický ústav SAV, 1990. 168 s.
  • ŠMILAUER, Vladimír. Úvod do toponomastiky : nauky o vlastních jménech zeměpisných. 2. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1966, 231 s. info
  • Lutterer, Ivan - Šrámek, Rudolf. Zeměpisná jména v Čechách, na Moravě a ve Slezsku. 1. vyd. Havlíčkův Brod: Tobiáš, 1997. 317 s.
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures, practical lessons
Assessment methods
Oral exam, exercises evaluation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2025/Z8172