What is Semiotics? | Introduction to Saussure, the Signifier and Signified - Semiotic Theory

Описание: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 | 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗿 | 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 | 𝗜𝗰𝗼𝗻 | 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅 | 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹 |

The study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.

Signifier: any material thing that signifies, e.g., words on a page, a facial expression, an image.

Signified: the concept that a signifier refers to.

Signs can take many forms. They can be words, numbers, sounds, photographs, paintings, and road signs among and more. However, while signs can be many things, they can be categorized as one of a few types.

An Icon has a physical resemblance to the signified, the thing being represented. A photograph is a good example as it certainly resembles whatever it depicts.

An index is a sign that shows evidence of the concept or object being represented. An index doesn't resemble the object or concept being represented. Instead, it resembles something that implies the object or concept.

A Symbol has no resemblance between the signifier and the signified. The connection between them must be culturally learned. Numbers and alphabets are good examples. There’s nothing inherent in the number 9 to indicate what it represents. It must be culturally learned.

Denotation is the surface meaning e.g., the American flag, and the connotation are the suggested, inferred or associated meanings (feelings, emotions, ideas that we associate with a particular sign) e.g., power, pride, superpower, imperial, and so on.

Often connotations are broadly shared within a culture, but they can vary from person to person, depending on their perspective. Connotations can change over time, as seen below: