Barthes, A leading theorist of the study of semiotics.

Pierce, Theorist that investigated iconic, indexical and symbolic signs.

Saussure, A Swiss semanticist and linguist. (signified and signifier)

Semiotics, the study of signs and symbols.

Sign, A signal or an action that gives instruction and information.

Signifier, a physical sign (sound, image or printed)

Signified, The meaning or idea that has been expressed by a sign.

An Iconic sign,
 which has a direct connection to its’ object (ie it looks or sounds like the object)

An Indexical sign,
which has an indirect link to its’ object (think smells)

An Symbolic sign,
which has a random or arbitary link based on a shared knowledge or an agreement, for example, a shared culture or language (think letters, words, writing, shapes, squiggles, colours, sound effects, facial expressions, hand gestures, clothing, hair styles, etc)

Code, A series of numbers, words or symbols that represents something and has meaning.

Dominant Signifier, The main meaning of a sign.

Anchorage, Anchor fixes your meaning the sign that provides clear meaning.

Ideology,
a system of ideas and ideals.

Paradigm,
a typical example or pattern of something.

Syntagm,
unit with a set of linguistic forms that are in a sequential relationship to one another. A sequence of signs.

Signifcation,
Representation or conveying of meaning. Process of creating signs.

Denotation,
the literal or primary meaning of a word.

Connotation,
The idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person.

Myth, A false belief, idea or story that isn’t 100% true.

Dominant Ideology, Dominant set of beliefs/ideas

A radical text, challenges a dominant ideology

A reactionary text, supports dominant ideology