Semiotics

toc “A general philosophical theory of signs and symbols that deals especially with their function in both artificially constructed and natural languages and comprises syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics” (Merriam-Webster 2006).
 * __Semiotics:__**

In the shortest form the definition for semiotics is ‘the study of signs’. Although this springs up many other questions this is the foundation for the complex semiotic definition. Visual signs are what most people tend to picture when this phrase is given. One must keep in mind that there are many other forms that signs can take. Sounds, words, photography are all examples of what a sign can be.

Semiology is a part of social psychology that “studies the role of signs as part of social life” and investigates the laws that govern signs as well as the nature of these signs (Chandler 2005).

Semiotics is based on an understood cultural meaning. It is not something that is applied worldwide, and not something that reamin concrete. Signs are always changing, creating new meaning and at times even losing their old meaning. One example of this would be the sign that is made when holding up your index and middle figure. This sign could be understood as the number two, yet also for a sign on peace. Yet, at one point, in the Roman era, it was known as the symbol for victory.

Signs also change through culture, religion and social status. A sign that may mean one thing to you, may not mean the same to someone living on the oppisite sign of the world, with a different background. For example, here we wear black at funerals to show signs of morning and grief, while in other parts of the world, white is worn for the same reason. White and black are complete oppisite, yet they are still able to produce the same effect; aslong as the context behind them is understood.

__Semiotics Applied__
Modern day media such as movies, TV shows, and especially advertising use and implement the theories of semiotics into their intended messages. There are three main types of signs laid out by semiotic theorist Charles Peirce. He identified the three signs as the icon, index, and symbol. Modern communication as we know and understand it would not exist if it were not for the system of signs we as a collective culture have laid out for ourselves.

Icon
A sign that is designed to represent something in reality. For Example, drawings and photographs and even words. In the media an Icon would include a picture of a person, or even an entire movie.

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(www.oprah.com)

Index
A sign that is designed to allow referents to be put in relation to one another. For example, maps, TV guide, table of contents are all example of an index. (www.maps.google.com)

Symbol
A sign that is defined by cultural experience. A symbol has meaning associated to it in specific contexts. For example, a symbol would be the colour red which stands for passion, love and hate. White is a colour that in the west stands for purity, but in the east represents mourning. Also a dove represents peace and purity to our culture only because we have associated that meaning to it throughout our history. (www.noidearecords.com/)

__**Work Cited**__

Chandler, Daniel. (2005). __Semiotics for Beginners.__ 3 April 2005. Available at:  Marriam-Webster. (2006). __Merriam Webster Online.__ Available at:  Danesi, Marcel. __Messages, Signs and Meaning__. Toronto. 2004. Canadian Scholars' Press