Signs of activity: integrating language and practical action

This paper seeks to explore the status and role of the notion of ‘activity’ within the integrationist tradition of philosophy of communication and at the same time to demonstrate the insights that integrationism can offer to the understanding of situated action. The paper argues that a notion of ‘activity’ is central to the integrationist enterprise because of its thorough-going instrumental approach to signs and sign-making. With the help of two case studies of practical activity, the paper explores how the activity of sign-making forms an integral aspect of purposeful action, collective or solo. This integrationist view of sign-making also requires us to reject the perspective on thinking and the relationship of thinking to bodily action which constitutes the ‘classical view of the mind’.

Research highlights► A notion of ‘activity’ is central to integrationist philosophy of communication. ► Integrationism offers important insights for an understanding of activity and its inherent semiotic. ► Intelligent activity depends on the active, dynamically developing sign-forming ability of the acting subject. ► The practically acting subject thinks in the ‘material’ of the real engagement with relevant objects and circumstances.