Semiotics

1. Sign: A gesture, action or thing that displays information or instruction
2. Code: Letters, words, symbols or figures used to represent others
3. Convention: A way that something is done
4. Dominant Signifier: The main sign
5. Anchorage: Words that go with images to give them a specific context

Ferdinand de Saussure:

1. Signifier: The thing, item or code that we read
2. Signified: The context behind the thing that is being represented
3. Syntagm: Sequence; order in which they go and how one sign links to another
4. Paradigm: Collection of similar signs; a group of things that are similar

C S Pierce:

1. Icon: A sign that looks like its object
2. Index: A sign that has a link to it’s subject
3. Symbol: A sign that has a random link to it’s subject

Roland Barthes:

1. Signification: The process of signifying by signs or symbols
2. Denotation: A literal meaning of a word in contrast to the feelings or ideas behind it
3. Connotation: A feeling that invokes for a person in addition to its literal meaning
4. Myth: Something that is made up and widely false; a rumour
5. Ideology: A system of ideas which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy
6. Radical: Challenges dominant ideas
7. Reactionary: Confirms dominant ideas

People:

Ferdinand de Saussure: The father or semiotics. The founder of modern theoretical linguistics

C S Pierce: The founder of the idea that an account of signification, representation, reference and meaning. The earliest proponent of pragmatism.

Roland Barthes: The founder of the Semiotic theory broke down the process of reading signs and focused on their interpretation by different cultures or societies. He established structuralism and the new criticism.

Semiotics:

Sign– something that could stand for something else, e.g words, drawings, photographs.

Code– Technical, written and symbolic tools used to construct or suggest meaning in media forms and products, e.g. camera.

Convention– Generally accepted ways of doing something.

Dominant Signifier– The main representative of something.

Anchorage – Words that go with an image to provide context.

Ferdinand De Saussure:

Signifier – Stands in for something else.

Signified -Idea being evoked by signifier.

C S Pierce:

Icon – A sign that looks like an object/person, e.g picture of a lamp.

Index – A sign that has a link to its object, e.g smoke and fire.

Symbol – A sign that has a more random link to its object, e.g colour, shape.

Roland Barthes:

Signification – Structural levels of signification, meaning or representation.

Denotation –  The most basic or literal meaning of a sign.

Connotation – The secondary, cultural meanings of signs; or “signifying signs,” signs that are used as signifiers for a secondary meaning. (what its associated with.)

Myth –  how words and images are systematically used to communicate cultural and political meanings, in texts such as advertisements, magazines, films, or TV programs.

Ideology – codes that reinforce or in agreement with structures of power.

Radical – Something that challenges dominant ideas.

Reactionary – Something that confirms dominant ideas.

Paradigm– a typical example or pattern of something. (collection of something)

Syntagm – an orderly combination of interacting signifiers which forms a meaningful whole. (sequence of signs)

Semiotics

1. Sign– An object or thing that stands in for something else
2. Code– Symbols that create meaning in something
3. Convention– Ways of using code in media
4. Dominant Signifier– The main representative
5. Anchorage– Images that has words to create context

Ferdinand De Saussure- A Swiss linguist, philosopher and semiotician

1. Signifier– An object that conveys meaning/stands for something
2. Signified– The meaning expressed from the signifier/sign

C S Pierce- An American Philosopher

1. Icon– A sign that looks like the object its representing
2. Index– A sign where the link is caused by the object
3. Symbol– A sign that has a rule to link to its object

Roland Barthes-

1. Signification– Representation of the meaning
2. Denotation– The literal meaning
3. Connotation– The interpretation of a meaning
4. Myth– Naturalises events, turning history into nature
5. Ideology– Codes that reinforce structures of power
6. Radical– Things you wouldn’t usually expect, counter typical
7. Reactionary– Things you typically expect, stereotypical

1. Paradigm– A typical example/pattern of something
2. Syntagm– A set of linguistic forms that are in sequential relationship to one another

CS Pierce

index – A sign with a link to its object

icon– a sign which looks like its object

symbol– a sign with a more random link to its object

Semiotics

sign– something that stands in for something else

code– symbolic tools that are used to create meaning

dominant signifier– the main representative

anchorage– words that have an image to give context

Ferdinand De Saussure

signified– an idea which is summoned by the signifier

signifier– something which stands in for something else

Roland Barthes

Myth– the most apparent quantity of signification which disfigures the meaning by validating arbitrary cultural assumptions in a similar way to the denotative sign.

Radical– something which challenges dominant ideas.

Reactionary– dominant ideas which are confirmed by something

ideology– the reinforcement of codes which are congruent with structures of power

denotation– literal or basic meaning of a sign

connotation– the secondary cultural meaning of signs or “signifying signs,” which are then used as the signifiers for a secondary meaning.

paradigm – A collection of similar signs.

syntagm – The sequence which words have been put in to.