Introduction to SemioticsIntroduction to Semiotics

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GENERAL OVERVIEWGENERAL OVERVIEW

What is semiotics?What is semiotics?

Semiotics (from the Greek ‘semeion’) is Semiotics (from the Greek ‘semeion’) is the study of signs and texts, which is to the study of signs and texts, which is to say that it is the study of meanings, say that it is the study of meanings, communication, interpretation and communication, interpretation and significance.significance.

Semiotics is less interested in what Semiotics is less interested in what something means than in how it means something means than in how it means anything at all to anybody.anything at all to anybody.

What is a Sign?What is a Sign?

The basic unit of semiotics is the sign. A sign is The basic unit of semiotics is the sign. A sign is a unit of meaning.a unit of meaning.

‘‘Aliquid pro aliquo’: a sign is ‘something that Aliquid pro aliquo’: a sign is ‘something that stands for something else.’stands for something else.’

A sign is something that ‘tells’.A sign is something that ‘tells’. It is for this reason that Umberto Eco (‘The It is for this reason that Umberto Eco (‘The

Name of the Rose’) defines semiotics as the Name of the Rose’) defines semiotics as the discipline that studies lying. Signs are always discipline that studies lying. Signs are always pretending they are something else.pretending they are something else.

SemiosisSemiosis

‘‘Semiosis’ means ‘sign-activity’. It is what Semiosis’ means ‘sign-activity’. It is what signs do.signs do.

Semiosis is not always communication.Semiosis is not always communication.

Signs & Texts Signs & Texts

Signs combine to form Texts. A text can Signs combine to form Texts. A text can be thought of as a message recorded in be thought of as a message recorded in some medium so that it is independent of some medium so that it is independent of a sender or a receiver.a sender or a receiver.

Semioticians analyse texts to reveal their Semioticians analyse texts to reveal their hidden meanings - what’s really going on.hidden meanings - what’s really going on.

CodesCodes

Signs and Texts are governed by codes.Signs and Texts are governed by codes. Codes are the rules and conventions for Codes are the rules and conventions for

making a text in a given genre or medium. They making a text in a given genre or medium. They are also the environment/context in which signs are also the environment/context in which signs exist.exist.

Codes are what help us understand and Codes are what help us understand and interpret signs. They are the rules of the game.interpret signs. They are the rules of the game.

These rules change over time. (eg: lava lamps)These rules change over time. (eg: lava lamps)

STRUCTURALISMSTRUCTURALISM

Saussure - BackgroundSaussure - Background

Ferdinand De Saussure:Ferdinand De Saussure: Born 1857 in SwitzerlandBorn 1857 in Switzerland 1856: at Leipzig University 1856: at Leipzig University

published a paper. (“On Vowels published a paper. (“On Vowels in Indo-European Languages”)in Indo-European Languages”)

1906 - Whilst the Professor of 1906 - Whilst the Professor of Sanskrit at Geneva he was asked Sanskrit at Geneva he was asked to teach a course in general to teach a course in general linguistics to some linguistics to some undergraduates.undergraduates.

After his death in 1913, his former After his death in 1913, his former students published his lecture students published his lecture notes. ‘Structural Linguistics’ was notes. ‘Structural Linguistics’ was born.born.

Saussure - IntroductionSaussure - Introduction

Traditionally language thought to be a system of Traditionally language thought to be a system of naming. This is fine for specific things, but what naming. This is fine for specific things, but what about “Man” or “Happiness” or “Nation”?about “Man” or “Happiness” or “Nation”?

For Saussure, language has nothing to do with For Saussure, language has nothing to do with names and is independent of the ‘real world’.names and is independent of the ‘real world’.

SemiologySemiology

Semiology - a Semiology - a ‘science which studies the ‘science which studies the role of signs as part of social life.’role of signs as part of social life.’

Saussure believed that his linguistic Saussure believed that his linguistic theories could be applied to all theories could be applied to all communication events. Semiology communication events. Semiology assumes that all culture on some level is assumes that all culture on some level is ‘like a language’.‘like a language’.

Barthes DefinitionBarthes Definition

““Semiology aims to take in any system of Semiology aims to take in any system of signs whatever their substance and limits; signs whatever their substance and limits; images, gestures, musical sounds, images, gestures, musical sounds, objects, and the complex associations of objects, and the complex associations of all of those which form the content of all of those which form the content of ritual, convention or public ritual, convention or public entertainments. These constitute, if not entertainments. These constitute, if not languages, at least systems of languages, at least systems of significations.” significations.” (Roland Barthes (1964))(Roland Barthes (1964))

Saussure - The SignSaussure - The Sign

Saussure’s sign has 2 parts; a sound-Saussure’s sign has 2 parts; a sound-image (signifier/Sr) and a concept image (signifier/Sr) and a concept (signified/Sd). The formal association of (signified/Sd). The formal association of these two parts makes a sign. (eg: /tree/ - these two parts makes a sign. (eg: /tree/ - ‘concept of a tree’)‘concept of a tree’)

The relationship between the two is formal The relationship between the two is formal and psychological. Signifcation is and psychological. Signifcation is something that goes on in our heads.something that goes on in our heads.

The Arbitrary SignThe Arbitrary Sign

The relation between signifier and The relation between signifier and signified is arbitrary.signified is arbitrary.

Lots of languages have different signifiers Lots of languages have different signifiers for the same concepts. As long as for the same concepts. As long as everyone agrees what the signifier is then everyone agrees what the signifier is then we can understand each other.we can understand each other.

A System of DifferencesA System of Differences

As a sign is made up of this arbitrary As a sign is made up of this arbitrary relationship, it can only have a meaning to relationship, it can only have a meaning to the extent that it is different from other the extent that it is different from other signs. Language is a system of signs. Language is a system of differences. What something means is differences. What something means is dependent on how much it differs from dependent on how much it differs from other signifiers and signifieds.Language is other signifiers and signifieds.Language is a system of formal relationships.a system of formal relationships.

ExamplesExamples

Example: (I) Explaining ‘brown’ to Example: (I) Explaining ‘brown’ to someone by just pointing to brown things someone by just pointing to brown things wouldn’t work.wouldn’t work.

Example (II) We can pronounce words in Example (II) We can pronounce words in all sorts of different ways, and as long as all sorts of different ways, and as long as one word can’t be confused for another one word can’t be confused for another then we can be understood. (eg: /bed/ then we can be understood. (eg: /bed/ vs /bead/ or /beard/)vs /bead/ or /beard/)

A System of Differences A System of Differences

““Concepts are purely differential and Concepts are purely differential and defined not by their positive content but defined not by their positive content but negatively by their relations with other negatively by their relations with other terms in the system.” terms in the system.” [Ferdinand de [Ferdinand de Saussure]Saussure]

Language & ExpressionLanguage & Expression

One consequence of this for semiology is One consequence of this for semiology is that language is not just a vehicle for that language is not just a vehicle for meaning and thought, but IS meaning and meaning and thought, but IS meaning and thought. Different languages… different thought. Different languages… different thoughts.thoughts.

E.M. Forster: E.M. Forster: “How can I tell what I think “How can I tell what I think until I see what I say?’until I see what I say?’

Criticisms - VolosinovCriticisms - Volosinov

Volosinov/Bakhtin (1895-1936):Volosinov/Bakhtin (1895-1936): ““A word is a bridge thrown between myself A word is a bridge thrown between myself

and another.”and another.” Saussure’s system is too abstract.Saussure’s system is too abstract. Language must be understood diachronically. Language must be understood diachronically.

Each sign has a history of use that must be Each sign has a history of use that must be taken into account. (eg: Volkswagons and taken into account. (eg: Volkswagons and Swastikas.) Is this a fair criticism?Swastikas.) Is this a fair criticism?

Meaning is dialogical and situated. (THEME)Meaning is dialogical and situated. (THEME)

Criticisms - Social Criticisms - Social SemioticsSemiotics ““Speech is solidarity”Speech is solidarity” (Gunther Kress) (Gunther Kress) In social semiotics, all speech has a social In social semiotics, all speech has a social

meaning, which is ‘motivated’. (connected meaning, which is ‘motivated’. (connected to action by individuals in society).to action by individuals in society).

People talk to each other, they get people People talk to each other, they get people to do things and meanings are to do things and meanings are exchanged. In other words, language is exchanged. In other words, language is performative.performative.

Criticisms - Social Criticisms - Social Semiotics iiSemiotics ii In social semiotics, language is not a closed In social semiotics, language is not a closed

system. It is open and fragmented and changing system. It is open and fragmented and changing all of the time.all of the time.

Saussure is tooSaussure is too individualisticindividualistic systematicsystematic

Saussure forgets that sign-systems areSaussure forgets that sign-systems are Open and ongoingOpen and ongoing Heavily contextualHeavily contextual

PEIRCEAN SEMIOTICSPEIRCEAN SEMIOTICS

Charles S. Peirce Charles S. Peirce

C.S. Peirce C.S. Peirce (pronounced ‘Purse)(pronounced ‘Purse)

An American philosopher and An American philosopher and logician writing at about the logician writing at about the same time as Saussure was same time as Saussure was teaching his course.teaching his course.

Was fired from a University job Was fired from a University job early in his career, and eked early in his career, and eked out a living writing articles for out a living writing articles for newspapersnewspapers

Peircean SemioticsPeircean Semiotics

Unlike Saussure, Peirce didn’t focus on language. Unlike Saussure, Peirce didn’t focus on language. He was interested in all kinds of signs, and his He was interested in all kinds of signs, and his system applies equally to bacteria as to humans.system applies equally to bacteria as to humans.

Peirce believed that all thinking and interpretation Peirce believed that all thinking and interpretation was the work of signs. (eg: ‘I’ is the sign through was the work of signs. (eg: ‘I’ is the sign through which people represent themselves to the world.)which people represent themselves to the world.)

As a logician he wanted to find out not only how As a logician he wanted to find out not only how signs happen to behave, but the rules to govern signs happen to behave, but the rules to govern how they must behave.how they must behave.

Peircean Semiotics iiPeircean Semiotics ii

For Peirce logic and semiotics are exactly For Peirce logic and semiotics are exactly the same thing.the same thing.

Like Saussure, Peirce believed that signs Like Saussure, Peirce believed that signs allow coded access to an object, but in allow coded access to an object, but in Peircean semiotics signs can be material Peircean semiotics signs can be material as well as well as mental/psychological.as well as well as mental/psychological.

Peirce’s SignPeirce’s Sign

Peirce defined the sign as Peirce defined the sign as ‘something ‘something which stands to somebody for something which stands to somebody for something in some respect or capacity.’in some respect or capacity.’

The Peircean sign has 3 parts:The Peircean sign has 3 parts: Sign/Representamen(S/R)Sign/Representamen(S/R) Object (O)Object (O) Interpretant (I)Interpretant (I)

Peirce’s Sign iiPeirce’s Sign ii

The Sign/Representamen is very much like The Sign/Representamen is very much like Saussure’s signifier. It stands for Saussure’s signifier. It stands for something and is interpreted.something and is interpreted.

This produces the Interpretant, which is This produces the Interpretant, which is close to Saussure’s signified. It is what is close to Saussure’s signified. It is what is represented or meant by a sign.represented or meant by a sign.

Both the Sign/Representamen and the Both the Sign/Representamen and the interpretant together stand for something interpretant together stand for something else: the Object.else: the Object.

Icon, Index, Symbol Icon, Index, Symbol

ICON: ICON: ‘relation of reason’‘relation of reason’ An iconic sign resembles its object (eg: a An iconic sign resembles its object (eg: a

photograph)photograph) INDEX: INDEX: ‘relation of fact’‘relation of fact’

An indexical sign has some natural/causal An indexical sign has some natural/causal connection with its object. (eg: smoke & fire)connection with its object. (eg: smoke & fire)

SYMBOL: SYMBOL: ‘relation of cognition’‘relation of cognition’ A symbolic sign relates to its object in a A symbolic sign relates to its object in a

conventional and arbitrary manner only (eg: conventional and arbitrary manner only (eg: language)language)

Unlimited SemiosisUnlimited Semiosis

““The meaning of a sign is always another The meaning of a sign is always another sign.”sign.”

The Interpretant of any Sign can become The Interpretant of any Sign can become the Sign for another Interpretant and so the Sign for another Interpretant and so on and so on. (eg: 2 people and another on and so on. (eg: 2 people and another comes along to witness the fight.)comes along to witness the fight.)

This is Unlimited Semiosis.This is Unlimited Semiosis. The Peircean sign is open, dynamic, and The Peircean sign is open, dynamic, and

no meaning is ever final.no meaning is ever final.

What’s the point of What’s the point of semiotics?semiotics? Allows us to see what is hidden in texts.Allows us to see what is hidden in texts. Gives us an understanding of the Gives us an understanding of the

polysemypolysemy of communication. of communication. Reveals just how much of culture we take Reveals just how much of culture we take

for granted as natural and necessary.for granted as natural and necessary. Unifies the study of communication, and Unifies the study of communication, and

makes legitimate the study of things like makes legitimate the study of things like pop-culturepop-culture

Some Criticisms of Some Criticisms of SemioticsSemiotics ““Semiotics tells us things we already know in a Semiotics tells us things we already know in a

language we’ll never understand.”language we’ll never understand.” Does semiotics really tell us anything useful about Does semiotics really tell us anything useful about

communication? It is very good at analysing what is communication? It is very good at analysing what is happening, but can it help us with the why?happening, but can it help us with the why?

Semiotics can appear imperialistic to other disciplines.Semiotics can appear imperialistic to other disciplines. Semiotic analyses often pretend to be authoritative, Semiotic analyses often pretend to be authoritative,

objective truths, but are often simply subjective objective truths, but are often simply subjective interpretations of texts.interpretations of texts.

SummarySummary

Semiotics is the study of signs and sign-Semiotics is the study of signs and sign-systems.systems.

Signs are combined into texts. This Signs are combined into texts. This process is governed by codes.process is governed by codes.

A sign is something that stands for A sign is something that stands for something else to someone else.something else to someone else.