In semiotics, the study of sign processes (semiosis), the meaning of a sign is its place in a sign relation, in other words, the set of roles that the sign occupies within a given sign relation.
This statement holds whether sign is taken to mean a sign type or a sign token. Defined in these global terms, the meaning of a sign is not in general analyzable with full exactness into completely localized terms, but aspects of its meaning can be given approximate analyses, and special cases of sign relations frequently admit of more local analyses.
Two aspects of meaning that may be given approximate analyses are the connotative relation and the denotative relation. The connotative relation is the relation between signs and their interpretant signs. The denotative relation is the relation between signs and objects. An arbitrary association exists between the signified and the signifier. For example, a US salesperson doing business in Japan might interpret silence following an offer as rejection, while to Japanese negotiators silence means the offer is being considered. This difference in interpretations represents a difference in semiotics.
The triadic (three part) model of the sign separates the meaning of a sign into three distinct components:
1. The representamen, which is the medium, or ‘sign vehicle’,[1] through which the sign is represented. For example, this could be written/spoken words, a photograph, or a painting.[2]
2. The interpretant, or what is meant by the sign [2]
3. The object, or that to which the sign refers [2]
Together, these three components generate semiosis. For example, an exclamation mark can be broken down into these components. The representamen is the exclamation mark itself, the interpretant is the idea of excitement or an elevated volume of speech, and the object is the actual excitement or elevated volume of speech to which it refers. While it might appear that the latter two are the same, the subtle difference lies in the fact that the interpretant refers to the idea of something, and the object is the thing itself.
The representamen component of the sign can be further broken down into three categories, which are icon, index, and symbol.[1] These denote the degree of abstraction from the object to which they refer. A symbol, which is the most abstract, does not resemble or bear any physical relation to the thing that it represents in any way. For example, a peace sign has no relation to peace aside from its social construction as a symbol that represents it. An icon is slightly less abstract, and resembles to some degree the thing that it represents, and bears some physical likeness to it. A good example of this would be a painted portrait. An index is the least arbitrary category of representamen, and has a definite physical tie to that which it represents. This could be something like a weather vane blowing in the wind indicating that it is windy out, or smoke, which indicates a fire.
The triadic model of the sign was proposed by Charles Peirce. In contradistinction to Ferdinand de Saussure's dyadic model, which assumed no material referent, Peirce's model assumes that in order for a sign to be meaningful, it must refer to something external and cannot be self-contained, as it is for Saussure. Thus, Peirce's model includes the addition of an 'object'. The ‘representamen’ and ‘interpretant’ components of the triadic model are comparable to Saussure's dyadic model of the sign, which breaks down into signifier and signified.[2]
^ abAtkin, Albert (2013-01-01). Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Peirce's Theory of Signs (Summer 2013 ed.).
^ abcdChandler, Daniel (2002). Semiotics: The Basics. New York: Routledge. ISBN0-415-35111-1.
May 02, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Meaning semiotics news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message In semiotics the study of sign processes semiosis the meaning of a sign is its place in a sign relation in other words the set of roles that the sign occupies within a given sign relation This statement holds whether sign is taken to mean a sign type or a sign token Defined in these global terms the meaning of a sign is not in general analyzable with full exactness into completely localized terms but aspects of its meaning can be given approximate analyses and special cases of sign relations frequently admit of more local analyses Two aspects of meaning that may be given approximate analyses are the connotative relation and the denotative relation The connotative relation is the relation between signs and their interpretant signs The denotative relation is the relation between signs and objects An arbitrary association exists between the signified and the signifier For example a US salesperson doing business in Japan might interpret silence following an offer as rejection while to Japanese negotiators silence means the offer is being considered This difference in interpretations represents a difference in semiotics Contents 1 Triadic relation 2 Sign relation 3 Connotative relation 4 Denotative relation 5 See also 6 NotesTriadic relation EditThe triadic three part model of the sign separates the meaning of a sign into three distinct components 1 The representamen which is the medium or sign vehicle 1 through which the sign is represented For example this could be written spoken words a photograph or a painting 2 2 The interpretant or what is meant by the sign 2 3 The object or that to which the sign refers 2 Together these three components generate semiosis For example an exclamation mark can be broken down into these components The representamen is the exclamation mark itself the interpretant is the idea of excitement or an elevated volume of speech and the object is the actual excitement or elevated volume of speech to which it refers While it might appear that the latter two are the same the subtle difference lies in the fact that the interpretant refers to the idea of something and the object is the thing itself The representamen component of the sign can be further broken down into three categories which are icon index and symbol 1 These denote the degree of abstraction from the object to which they refer A symbol which is the most abstract does not resemble or bear any physical relation to the thing that it represents in any way For example a peace sign has no relation to peace aside from its social construction as a symbol that represents it An icon is slightly less abstract and resembles to some degree the thing that it represents and bears some physical likeness to it A good example of this would be a painted portrait An index is the least arbitrary category of representamen and has a definite physical tie to that which it represents This could be something like a weather vane blowing in the wind indicating that it is windy out or smoke which indicates a fire The triadic model of the sign was proposed by Charles Peirce In contradistinction to Ferdinand de Saussure s dyadic model which assumed no material referent Peirce s model assumes that in order for a sign to be meaningful it must refer to something external and cannot be self contained as it is for Saussure Thus Peirce s model includes the addition of an object The representamen and interpretant components of the triadic model are comparable to Saussure s dyadic model of the sign which breaks down into signifier and signified 2 Sign relation EditMain article Sign relationConnotative relation EditThis section is empty You can help by adding to it June 2010 Denotative relation EditThis section is empty You can help by adding to it June 2010 See also EditConnotation and denotation Connotation Denotation Connotation in semiotics Denotation in semiotics Denotational semantics Fully abstract Information theory Ideasthesia Logic of information Meaning in linguistics Pragmatic maxim Pragmatics Peirce Charles Sanders Relation Semantics Semiotic information theory Sign relation Triadic relationNotes Edit a b Atkin Albert 2013 01 01 Zalta Edward N ed Peirce s Theory of Signs Summer 2013 ed a b c d Chandler Daniel 2002 Semiotics The Basics New York Routledge ISBN 0 415 35111 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meaning semiotics amp oldid 1078872871, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
