This article first outlines the principle of a cognitive semiotics,and in this framework presents a sign classification taking into consideration the crucial importance of time.It then offers a stratified interpretation of the Lotmanian concept of semiosphere,and continues with a study of the contradiction holding between cultural and socio-functional meanings.This leads to an analysis of ethnic passions and ethnic identity,and finally to a new analysis of homo metonymicus,and the two underlying cognitive structures based on the genitive and the dative schemas,that orient the human imaginary,for better or for worse. This article first outlines the principle of a cognitive semiotics, and in this framework presents a sign classification taking into consideration the crucial importance of time.It then offers a stratified interpretation of the Lotmanian concept of semiosphere, and continues with a study of the contradiction holding between cultural and socio-functional meanings. This leads to an analysis of ethnic passions and ethnic identity, and finally to a new analysis of homo metonymicus, and the two underlying cognitive structures based on the genitive and the dative schemas, that orient the human imaginary , for better or for worse.