Within the theoretical framework of Silverstein's metasemantics and metapragmatics, Bakhtin and Voloshinov's dialogic perspective and deconstructionism, the 15 papers of this volume move toward a unified semiotic perspective on the context anchorage of speech and writing. Section I deals with theoretical foundations; sections II-III include a series of case studies of reported speech and other types of reflexivity; and section IV presents several studies emphasizing "Western" metapragmatic regimes.