Charles Jencks discusses the roles of linguistics and syntax in modern, [ost-modern, and art nouveau architecture. He traces a formal, semantic and social history of the evolution from early twentieth century design to the contemporary (1976) language of architecture. He describes the modernist dilemma of abstract signifier and signified, and the reintroduction of syntax and the semantic use of historic architectural elements. Much of the end of the lecture involves Jencks fielding skeptical comments and questions from the audience.
