Semiotics: The study of signs!

September 27, 2024

Let's Discuss Sign Terminology:

SIGNS? What does this term even mean?

Signs are basically various images and symbols that always represent something. Almost anything can be a sign doesn't even matter what that is, a teddy bear could represent childhood, and an empty bowl could represent empty emotions and neglect.

Semiotics is also a concept based on signs and their usage. Roland Barthes proposed his theory, saying that signs are more than just symbols, and their meanings can be easily inferred. Barthes believed that signs are subject to cultural and ideological influences.

Ferdinand de Saussure's linguistic theory also supports Barthes's idea by saying that language is a structured system of signs and can convey ideas. We can easily deduce that signs have meanings, now if each and every sign has a meaning how do we know and distinguish between them?

Saussure explained that to us as well by introducing his semiotics theory that enlightened us with the concept of signifier and signified:

source of information:

"He argued that signs in language (as in visual communication) consist of the relationship between these two elements. The signifier is the physical appearance of the sign, such as a word, image, or sound, while the signified is the concept or meaning associated with the signifier."

Therefore we can infer that each sign holds a concept that is associated with the signifier! But what about the cultural influences Roland talked about?

Well, Roland was right, signs do have various cultural influences that turn them into ideologies or myths. he also gave the concept of connotation, denotation, and myths.

"The denotation of a sign is its literal meaning"

"Connotation is the secondary meaning influenced by your feelings and emotions."

"Denotations and connotations are organized into myths – the ideological meaning. These make ideology seem natural. For example, Dungeon and dragons represent satanic activity..."