Semiotics

Semiotics is the theory of signs and signifying practices.  When you say think of a sign many will think of road signs or money symbols, signs that usually have only one meaning.  But there are many signs and symbols that have multiple meanings.  The sign of the cross is a good example as it has many meanings.  Obviously it has religious connections, but remember it is also used to represent a health service or when in an orange square meanings warning irritable substance and is also used to represent England.

Ferdinand de Saussure defined a sign as a 2 two sided entity.  One of these sides is the signifier, which might be speech or a written word, the other side is the signified, this might be a mental concept thought of by the receiver.  There must be a bond between the two for the viewer to understand the sign.

Charles Peirce on the other hand defined a sign as a three sided theory.  A representation which might be referred to as a ‘sign’.   An object which is the ‘actual’ thing, and the interpretent which is influenced by the experience of the viewer.   

Peirce also came up with another way of cataloguing signs into three groups. 

An Icon or Image has a visable link to the thing it represents, and we use other signs around it to locate its true meaning.  On its own you could only guess at its meaning.  A sign showing two children walking doesn’t mean much, but when it’s in a red triangle with the words school underneath you are able to understand its meaning.

An Index sign has a causal link between the sign and the object, it is more subtle and indirect, possibly with a hidden meaning, smoke caused by fire.

And a symbol, these have no connection to the meaning its trying to represent it can only be learnt, such as money signs.