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SIGN
MEANING- Sign is the smallest unit of meaning anything that can be used to communicate, Signs
are informative, mandatory, warning, advisory and prohibitory in nature. For examples,
when you see the traffic light turn red, you automatically stop driving or riding a motorcycle.
Similarly, you see a sign depicting a horn that is crossed out on a school building. It depicts
that it is mandatory to maintain silence, and you must not honk the horn in the zone.
>> Nothing is sign unless it is interpretated as a sign.
Saussure’s sign has two parts: a sound image-[signifier] and a concept [signified].the formal
association of these two parts makes a sign, (e.g.:/tree/-“concept of a tree”)
The relationship between the two is formal and psychological; signification is something that goes in
our head.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/presentationbairamsir-170519153913/85/Signs-and-codes-semiotic-analysis-2-320.jpg)
Signs and codes semiotic analysis
- 1. ` SEMIOTICS AND PRAGMATICS SEMIOTICS TERMINOLOGY- The term derives from the Greek sēmeiōtikos, "observant of signs", sēmeion, "a sign, a mark" and it was first used in English prior to 1676 by Henry Stubbes (spelt semeiotics) in a very precise sense to denote the branch of medical science relating to the interpretation of signs. DEFINATION OF SEMIOTICS-Semiotics is the study of sign systems. It explores how words and other signs make meaning. In semiotics, a sign is anything that stands in for something other than itself. For Saussure, language itself makes meaning rather than simply conveying meaning. Therefore, our experience is influenced by the language we use to describe it. This meaning-making is why the theories of Saussure have become important to literary theory. When we understand that language is a sign system and not just a naming of objects, we read and discuss literary works differently. We are able to analyze the various meanings embedded in a text and how one text influences another. Scope of semiotics MEANING>>>>>>>COMMUNICATION>>>>>>>INTERPRETANT The scope of semiotics is very broad; it contains three field of sign 1. It studies the meaning of sign system 2. It also studies how to communicate our feeling, emotions, and ideas by the use of sign. 3. It studies the interpretational are of sign, how sign are interpreted by the different decoder in different meaning or object.
- 2. ` SIGN MEANING- Sign is the smallest unit of meaning anything that can be used to communicate, Signs are informative, mandatory, warning, advisory and prohibitory in nature. For examples, when you see the traffic light turn red, you automatically stop driving or riding a motorcycle. Similarly, you see a sign depicting a horn that is crossed out on a school building. It depicts that it is mandatory to maintain silence, and you must not honk the horn in the zone. >> Nothing is sign unless it is interpretated as a sign. Saussure’s sign has two parts: a sound image-[signifier] and a concept [signified].the formal association of these two parts makes a sign, (e.g.:/tree/-“concept of a tree”) The relationship between the two is formal and psychological; signification is something that goes in our head.
- 4. ` SYMBOLIC SIGN- Symbolic sign is that sign where a arbitrary and conventional relationship is found between signifier and signified, For example, letters of the alphabet, the number system, mathematical signs, computer code, punctuation marks, traffic signs, national flags and so forth. There’s no logical connection between a symbol and what it represents. The connection must be learned and it usually becomes associated with the concept it represents over time. Again language and numbers are symbols. Traffic lights are symbols. Flags are symbols. What’s being communicated must be learned. 1.Many words in every language describe objects that no one has ever seen, like MONSTER, UNICORN, GHOST, DEVIL, etc Iconic Sign Iconic sign is that sign where the signifier resembles the signified, and meaning is based on similarity of appearance. For example, a portrait, a cartoon, sound effects, or a statue. 1. A picture of your face is an icon of you. 2.The little square with a picture of a printer on your computer screen is an icon for the print function 3. Picture of a smoking cigarette with a diagonal bar across the picture is an icon that directly represents `Smoking? Don't do it' Indexical Sign Indexical signs have a cause and effect relationship between the sign and the meaning of sign. there is a direct link between the two. dark cloudsin the west are an index of impending rain smoke is the causes of fire red light indicates danger CODE A group of signs is called code. Some theorists argue that even our perception of the everyday world around us involves codes. Codes represent a broad interpretative framework used by both addressers and their addressees to encode and decode the messages.Inthe processof signification,the code isprimordial.Forexample,if aperson says:"Viensici" to a friend,the friendwill onlyunderstandif he orshe speaksFrench.The senderandreceivermustshare a commoncode The code is found in Jacobson’s communication model. It designates all of the conventions that make it possible for the sender's message to be understood by the receiver in an act of
- 5. ` communication. The code may thus be a language, a system used in sports (the referee in baseball or the signs used for communication between the catcher and pitcher), kinesics (interpreting unconscious nonverbal language, such as tiny facial movements), etc. TYPES OF CODE There are three types of code: 1 SOCIAL CODESThe codes used by society) It specifides correct v/s incorrect behavior, social code can be classified into two catageory “verbal” and “non verbal”. 1.VERBAL CODES: i>PHONOLOGICAL:BAJAR/BAZAAR II >LEXICAL:Beautiful girl/Handsom boy iii>Syntactical:That is a handsom boy. 2. NON-VERBAL CODES: Head node, facial expression, bodily contact, gestures and postures. I.COMMODITY LEVEL: Fashion, clothing, architecture, furniture and food. ii.BAHAVIORAL: protocols, Ritual, games and kungfu. iii.REGULATORY: Professional, army, doctor. AS Leach,1976(p.10) pointed out,code all various non-verbal dimensions entire of clothing,village layout,architecture,furniture,food,physical gesture and postural attitude in organized pattern sex. 2.LOGICAL CODES(The codes used by science) Examples of logical codes are:mathematics,morse code, the alphabet,Braille,the highway code, assembly diagrams, It Specifies meaning attached with certain signs which are used to characterize and understand.Examples: i.Science ii.Chemestry ii.Electrocardiogramme 3.AESTHETIC CODES: (The codes used by art) It specifies good v/s bad art and literature (NATRAJ Art). Aesthetic codes can be classified into three parts: 1. AUDIO: Song, narrative, proverbs, idioms, riddles, etc.. 2. VISUAL: Magic shows, theatre, puppetry, video news, painting, street play, nukkad natak,photo. 3.WRITTEN: 1.PROSE: i.FICTIONAL: Short story, novel, drama. Ii.Non-fictional: Essay, thesis, criticism, traflone, research . 2.POETRY: diversified ii.Free-verse Polysemic: one signifier stand for many signified Monosemic: one signifier stand for one signified
- 6. ` 1. Logical codes are monosemic(the signifier stands for only one signified) 2. Social and aesthetic codes are polysemic(the signifier can stand for more than one signified) 3. Logical codes are denotative (there is a literal meaning clear to any audience) 4. Aesthetic and social codes are connotative(there is a variety of implications available to knowledgeable audience members) 5. Logical codes are generally digital(they can be divided into discrete units) 6. Aesthetic and social codes are more often analogical(no discrete units) 7. Logical codes are conventional (traditional meaning assumed to be understood by the audience is used). 8. Social and aesthetic codes are either conventional or new(the author/artist/social actor draws new connection between signifier and signified never drawn before). 9. Logical codes have a single possible decoding (what I intend should always be what you understand) 10. Aesthetic and social code have the possibility of aberrant coding9 you have a good chance to learning something I never intended, or missing what I considered obvious) Logical code >Monosemic >Denotative >Digital >Conventional Meaning >Single decoding possible >Decode by explicit agreement >Symbolic >Social stasis as the norm Aesthetic code >Polysemic >Connotative >Analogic >Conventional or new >aberrant decoding possible >Decode by clues within text >Iconic >Individual >Change as the norm Social code >polysemic .connotative >Analogic >Conventional or new >Aberrant decoding possible >Decode by convention >symbolic
- 7. ` Ploysemi c v/s Monose mic Logical code are monose mic means the signifier stands for only one signified. where as both social and aesthetic codesare polysemc means the signifier that standfor more than one Signified. Connotative v/s Denotative: Logical codes are denotative that isto say that there isa literal meaning whichisclear to the decoder. where asboth aestheticandsocial code are connotative, that is to say that there can be varietyof implication available to the knowledgeable audience , members(Decoder ) ConventionalV/S New Logical code are conventional that is to saythat the encoderuses some signs whichhave traditional meaning,that can be understoodby The decoder. where as social and aesthetic codes can either be conventional or eithernew. For example- Author,Artist, Social Actor may draw new connection between signifier and signified some thing which was never Drawn before. social v/s aesthetic code aesthetic and social codes appear very similar but there are few differences: .symbolic v/s iconic 1. aesthetic codes are iconic that is to say that made up iconic, i.e.signs with relation of similarity between signifier and signified where as social and logical codes are generally symbolic. That is to say that they are made up of symbols, i.e. Sign with an arbitrary relation with signifier and signified. Individual v/s societal 2 .aesthetic codes are more of an individual. That is to say the individual artist can createan entirely new meaning where as logical and social code is more of societal one. That is to say that they convey consistence meanings which are known to the larger society. Static V/S Changeability Logical code is static, social and aesthetic codes are changeable. Single possible decoding v/saberrant decoding Logical code because of all the previous characteristics, has a single possible decoding, that is to say that what is encoder instant should always be Was decoder understood Where as social and aesthetic code have been possibility of aberrant coding, that is to say that the decoder has a good chance of learning something that the encoder never intended.
- 8. ` static v/s changeability: Logical codes are static that is to say that they don’t change for a period of time or they can change little but with explicit agreement other wise they would loose their value, where as for aesthetic code change in the norm and here innovation is highly valued, if somebody makes a painting excattely the same makes a painting exactly the same the same somebody had already made .he would be criticized and may also be panalized for it.here what matters the most for audio visual as well as written art is the creativity or the innovation. Categories of signs by UMBERTO ECO Umberto Eco say’s “the sign is use to transmit information, to says a thing that someone knows and wants others to know as well.” ..He developed his theory in 1973. He is close to Charles sanders Peirce ..Further revised date of his theory is reconstructed in 1988. .. Umberto eco’s special contribution is that while discussing signs in addition to words and language, he also addresses non linguistic and even natural signs. Umberto Eco has developed a classification in which he distinguishes between artificialand natural signs. This will be the topic of the present chapter. Natural signs are divided into two classes: NATURAL SIGN- Natural sign are those sign which are produced by the natural resource. that is to say that they do not have a human sender. (1) Signs identified with natural events or things (for example, the position of the sun), these signs originate from a natural source; they do not have a human sender. In order for these signs to signify despite being naturally produced, they must be decodable through the previous learning of the individual who encounters them. Nature is also "a universe of signs" (Eco, 1988, 16). The position of the sun indicates what time it is; for example; an accumulation of grey clouds signifies an approaching storm, and so on. (2) Signs unintentionally produced by a human agent (for instance, a rash indicating chickenpox). This class includes several subclasses. Asimilar division is made for ARTIFICIAL SIGN- Artificial sign are those signs which are produced by the human for transmitting information. Artificial signs are word, Gestures, Postures, and symbol. (1) Intentionally produced in order to signify (the barking of a dog, for example), these signs always originate from a sender (human or animal). They are produced consciously by someone,based on specific conventions,and with the aim of communicating something to someone (2) intentionally produced as a primary function (for example, a chair for sitting), The object of the sign refers to a primary function, such as "sitting" in the case of a chair, "movement" in the case of an automobile, "shelter" in the case of a house, etc. a secondary function (a diamond
- 9. ` artificial signs, which are either,,, These signs do not have an intentional sender. They are produced by a human, but not consciously or deliberately. For example, the doctor can decode the spots on his patient's skin and thereby conclude that the patient has a liver disease. The reverse is impossible: The patient cannot deliberately produce these signs (symptoms in this case) on his skin in order to signify the disease. This class also includes psychological symptoms, behavior, disposition, indices of race, class, and regional origin, etc necklace for wealth), In this case, signification is more strongly marked by the semiotic characteristics of the object. Amarble bathtub from Italy encrusted with gold and mother-of- pearl is so strongly associated with wealth, prestige and luxury that its primary function as a tub in which to bathe is relegated to secondary status. a combined function (a police uniform, which serves both to cover and to indicate a social function), Most of the objects we encounter daily have both of these functions at once. Although the police uniform's primary function is to protect and cover the body, it also signifies "membership in the police force" (the secondary function), and it indicates whether the police force in question is municipal, provincial or federal, to use Québec as a example. Umberto eco 1988 p.16 says nature is also a universe of sign, examples can be 1. The position of sun which indicates what time is it. 2. An accumulation of gray cloud which signifies and approaching stone heavy rain, thunder etc. EXAMPLE- The position of sun which indicates what time is. Accumulation of gray cloud which signifies and approaching stone heavy rain, thunder etc. SASSURE’s AND PIERCE MODEL Saussure’s believes that language is all about meaning and thought, different linguistic elements have different thought or sense.
- 10. ` Pierce was interested in all kinds of signs and his systems applies equally to bacteria as to human. Sign Dyadic model Triadic model >Ferdinand De Saussure (semiology) >postulated by (1839-1914) >European school of thought >father of modern Linguistic >Saussure was more concerned with linguistics. > Semiology is the science which studies the role of signs as part of social life. >Semiology assumes that all culture on some level is like a language. > For Saussure, signifier and signified are inseparable—they are like the front and back of a sheet of paper. One does not exist without the other, and conversely, one always implicates the other. They are each the other's condition of possibility. > >Charles Sanders pierce(semiotics) >Postulated by (1857-1914) >American school of thought >Father of Pragmatics philosophy >pierce’s model seems to be more complete than Saussure’s >Semiotics is the study of culture signs and symbols. >semiotics can help understand signs in computers. According to Charles sanders pierce model of semiotics it is different from linguistic, however semiotics also studies non linguistic sign as wellas linguistic sign system. Semiotics is the general term for the study of signs associated with broad areas such as linguistics, anthropology, film theory and even philosophy.
- 11. ` In contrast to this Saussure’s call for a science of sign’s seems to become basically a linguistic sign’s which limits it to human communication only. And that is why to some semioticians semiology is that part of semiotics which relates to conventional communication or intentional communication. This view makes semiology subsets of semiotics… >> Saussure’s says that the bond between the signifier and signified is “arbitrary” ,not “motivated”(by natural resemblance) >>
- 12. ` INTERPRET (HINDU, CHRISTIAN) OBJECT 3 REPRESENTAMEN (WHITE COLOR) UNDERSTANDING LEVEL OF AUDIENCE REPRESENTAMEN (OWL) In Indian context owl is the symbol of idiot, dumb. While in U.S.A. owl mean intelligent. >>Semiotics of the Charles sanders Pierce to a great deal were laps in function and meaning with the semiology of the Ferdinand de Saussure, however semiotics may be consider broader in scope as a branch of sign which studies meaning communication and interpretation in systematic way >> Piercean Semiotics in compasses the range of or possible sign and their human and non human maker and taker alike. MYTHS CLAUDE LEVI STRAUSS is a French anthropologist, most well known for his development of structural anthropology A traditional story accepted as history and serve to explain the world viewof the people from a particular community. CLAUDE LEVI STRAUSS analyzed myths from different cultures and discovered a number of recruitment elements which he termed as MYTHEMES comparing to phoneme and morphemes in the verbal communication. According to Levi-Strauss myth has its own characteristics which distinguish it from its language and which make myth a language in itself. According to Levi-Strauss, a myth should by analyzed into its mythemes which are subsequently classified and visually sorted in columns. The contradictory aspects of myths: 1. In a myth anything can happen, you cannot predict the outcome or sequence of events logically
- 13. ` · 2. There also is a lack of continuity as any given number of characteristics can be attributed to a character · 3. Relations between characters can spring up at short notice and so there is nothing impossible in a myth. P IN B IN P IN T IN PIN? DIN As we all know Claude Levi Strauss suggested that myth can be broken down into CONSTITUENT UNIT (MYTHEMES).These units function as bundles of relations, he proposes “myth is language, functions on and specially high level.where meaning succeeds practically at ‘taking off’ from the linguistic ground on which it keeps roiling. INTERPRETANT