Citation practices as semiotic interpretants of certification of local knowledge in astronomy: Mexico 1952-1972

We studied the scientific literature in the field of astronomy published in the Mexican Journal, Boletín de los Observatorios de Tonantzintla y Tacubaya, from 1952 to 1972. We analyzed the articles published during this important period of great changes in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge. Our goal is to identify affiliation practices in the patterns of scientific communication. The characteristics of citation practices were reviewed, particularly the communication functions of references as rhetorical elements of persuasion. Semiotic analysis was used, particularly the triadic model of concept formation. Accordingly, it was possible to demonstrate new roles of the Boletín articles within the framework of the system of international communication. Semiotic interpretants reveal two communication functions acquired by the texts: in the first case, sources are accredited, and the second case, sources are accrediting, in a mutual process of certification of knowledge found in scientific journals.