Midterm Semiotics pt 1

stupid midterm prep :(

Arbitrary

the lack of a natural or inherent connection between a signifier (a word, image, etc.) and its signified (the concept it represents).

Differentiation

refers to how meanings are created through difference rather than inherent properties among signs in a semiotic system.

Signifier

a physical form of a sign, such as a word or image, that represents a concept or meaning in the semiotic process.

Signified

the concept or meaning that a signifier represents in the semiotic process.

Theories About ‘Signs’

explore the nature of signs, how they create meaning, and their interpretation in various contexts.

Positioning

refers to the strategic placement of signs within a semiotic framework to influence perception and interpretation, often conditioned by cultural and contextual factors.

Valeur

the value or meaning that a sign acquires through its relation to other signs in a semiotic system.

Saussurean’s Model

a framework elaborated by Ferdinand de Saussure that emphasizes the dichotomy of the 'signifier' (the form a sign takes) and 'signified' (the concept it represents), highlighting the arbitrary nature of signs and their interrelations.

Augustine’s Model

a framework by Augustine of Hippo that focuses on the role of the interpreter's intent and the context in understanding signs, contrasting with Saussure's emphasis on the sign itself.

Peircean’s Model

a semiotic framework developed by Charles Sanders Peirce that categorizes signs into icons, indexes, and symbols, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between the representamen, its object, and its interpretant.

The Didactic Model

a theory in semiotics that focuses on the educational purpose of signs and how they can be used to convey morals and lessons to an audience.

Theories on Language

various approaches and frameworks that explore the nature, function, and meaning of language in communication, including structuralism, semiotics, and pragmatics.

Relational Systems

a concept in semiotics that examines how signs and their meanings are influenced by their relationships with other signs within a particular context.

Referential Meaning

a type of meaning in semiotics that refers to the relationship between a sign and the real-world object or concept it represents, highlighting how signs evoke specific references and associations.