This Means That Notes

This Means That:

Semiotics—theory of signs, Greek word “semeiotikos” – “interpreter of signs”

Signs: underlies all forms of communication, gestures, facial expressions, speech disorders, etc.

Mean something other than themselves

Signs, not isolated; dependent for meaning on contexts in which they are read or understood.

About took, processes, and contexts we have for creating, interpreting and understanding meaning in a variety of different ways.

Signs and Signing

Signs are formed by society that creates them

Produced and consumed in context of specific society

Humans have need to tell stories

2 Sources of Signing:

Natural, Conventional: depends on “rules” of particular society of which we are a part.

Key Semiotic Concept

Sender (who)

Intention (with what aim)

Message (says what)

Transmission (by which means)

Noise (with what interference)

Receiver (to whom)

Destination (with what result)

Signifier VS. Signified

We can have the same signifier with different signifieds.

We can have different signifiers with same signifieds.

Maps

Schematic: environment represented in abstract way

Topographical: environment represented in more exact/ concrete way.

Representational Photograph

Present problem because often appears to have been caused by real events even if faked.

When there’s a physical/causal relationship between signifier and signified, the non-arbitrary relationship that exists is said to be indexical.

Symbol and meaning- one thing can be thrown together with another and a relationship is created whereby first symbolizes the second.

Symbol— used in any special sense to mean literally any sign where there’s arbitrary relationship between signifier and signified.

Messages always transmitted through medium:

Medium:

Presentational: through voice, face, part of body, etc.

Representational: through paintings, books, photos

Mechanical: through phones, internet, radio, etc.

How we make sense of a message depends on how we interpret it and who we think is receiving it.

Ways of Meaning

Sarcasm—changes the meaning of what is said, literal communication is more dominant and common than non-literal communication

When we liken things to another we highlight the features that interest us.

Metaphor has implies comparison of 2 similar of dissimilar things.

When something is closely or directly associated to another it can be substituted for it so as to create meaning: Metonyms.

Sometimes what matter the most is what you leave out.

Synecdoche—using a part to represent the whole.