Time O' The Signs

Every day, we see loads of symbols. We see them everywhere, and they are so commonplace that usually we don't even notice them. However, within your mind, you are subconsciously interpreting these signs and their meaning. Your brain needs to recognise these signs, understand the context in which they are being presented, and then deal with it accordingly. The attempt to categorise and understand this process is known as Semiotics.

Semiotics is basically the fancy way to say 'the study of signs'. The concept was first dreamt up by Ferdinand de Saussure (1857 – 1913). He wrote of a science 'which studies the role of signs as part of social life' . Saussure believed that research into the meanings of these signs and symbols was an important part of figuring out some of the processes that occur within our mind when dealing with signs.

In the early days of Semiotics, Saussure created a model that states what makes a sign. It was in two parts. First came the 'Signifier', which is the form that the sign takes, and secondly, the 'Signified', which is the concept that it represents. Combine the two, and you have a sign. In the more modern interpretation of this method, the signifier is now known as the material i.e. physical form of the sign, something which exists and can be seen or felt.

Modern approaches to the field draw upon the work and ideas of the key figures in the subject, Ferdinand de Saussure, Charles Sanders Pierce, and Umberto Eco. The approach commonly used today lists signs as existing within three different forms:

Firstly, we have the Symbol, were the sign has broken any conventional ties with reality, and its form has moved into the realm of abstraction. Symbols require knowledge about how they connect to the signified, as in you must understand the relationship between the two. To demonstrate this, I went on a photographic expedition to gather some examples to show you. Here are some Symbols. 

 

Secondly, comes the Index, which is directly connected in some way to the signified. This is one of the harder concepts to wrap your head around. A great example we were given in our lecture is that smoke is an index to fire, a signal which tells of the Signified. Take a look at a sample of some Index's.

Lastly, we have the Icon. For something to be an Icon, it must resemble or imitate the signified. It needs to share some of the quality’s of the signified, usually visually, but also in other ways, such as how something sounds, or feels. Icons can also be illustrative or representational, such as a photograph. To help visualise this, here are some examples I found earlier.

I must point out that I have barely scratched the surface of Semiotics in my short dialogue here. There is quite a bit of history to consider with this subject, and lots of research and information that I cant really cover here without this turning into a rambling history lesson. Its worth reading a bit more on Saussure, Pierce, and Eco, if this Semiotics stuff floats your boat. I found it to be an interesting concept to consider and read into a little bit, but personally I can't see myself losing too much sleep over the subject in the future. 

Here are some links to further reading on the subject:

Semiotics For Beginners 
Ferdinand de Saussure
Charles Sanders Peirce 
Umberto Eco