As a “guide for the perplexed”, at least when it comes to semiotics, I’ll use this thread to collect a budget of resources I think have served to clarify the topic in the past.

By way of a first offering, let me recommend the following most excellent paper, which I can say with all due modesty in light of the fact all its excellence is due to my most excellent co‑author.

• Awbrey, J.L., and Awbrey, S.M. (1995), “Interpretation as Action : The Risk of Inquiry”, Inquiry : Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines 15(1), pp. 40–52. Archive. Journal.
  Online (doc) (pdf).