Discursive profile of international telecommunication regulations as institutional dialogue: a sociosemiotic perspective.

This study, from a sociosemiotic perspective, sets out to examine the meaning making process of the International Telecommunication Regulations by investigating the contributions submitted by the Member States and Sector Members of the International Telecommunication Union, and two versions of the International Telecommunication Regulations (1988 version and 2012 version). The findings show that the International Telecommunication Regulations, as a sign, may be ideologically and institutionally constrained as well as historically situated. As regards its review, Member States and Sector Members have divergent views carrying distinct institutional positions, which are induced by various national interests and different technological levels. Concerning its revision, a comparative analysis of the overall articles and the modal system of the 1988 version and the 2012 version reflects that the meaning making of the International Telecommunication Regulations is inherently embedded in specific historical backgrounds, and the frequent use of soft language in the 2012 version may be conceived of as a mediational means to compromise the distinct views of member states on the controversial issues and facilitate institutional interactions. It is therefore argued that the discourse construction of the International Telecommunication Regulations is an institutional process of "interest weighing", jurisdictional compromise and institutional dialogue among Member States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]