Structuralism
Definition
Semiotic / semiology =>
The study of sign and sign-using behavior
a domain of investigation that explores the
nature and function of signs as well as the
systems and processes underlying signification, expression, representation, and communication.
Why?
Humans are homo-significans (meaning-maker) We make meanings through our creation and
interpretation of ‘sign’
Sign takes the form of words, images, sounds,
flavors, acts or objects
Anything can be a sign as long as someone
interprets it as “signifying something” referring to or standing for something other than itself
Charles Sander Pierce declares 'Nothing is a sign
Characteristic of sign
Arbitrariness
Sign is arbitrary because there is no inherent, essential, 'transparent', self-evident or 'natural' connection between the signifier and the signified - between the sound or
shape of a word and the concept to which it refers
Differential
Sign has differentiation because a sign stands for its own role, without interference from other signs. The word “d-o-g” resembles an animal called dog, because it is
Saussure’s Concept
the arbitrariness of the sign as the first principle
of semiology, specifically, the arbitrariness of the link between the signifier and the signified
Saussure’s semiotics concept is distinction
Saussure’s Concept
a sign must have both a signifier and a
signified, we cannot have a totally
meaningless signifier or a completely
formless signified
A sign is a recognizable combination of a
signifier with a particular signified because
sign is the result of association of the
Pierce’s Concept
Known as “classification of sign”
Pierce sees the relationship of sign with
logic
Divided into:
a. Symbol (conventional)
b. Icon (similarities)
Pierce’s Concept
Symbol
Symbolic is a mode in which the signifier does not resemble the signified but which is fundamentally arbitrary or purely conventional
Icon
Iconic is a mode in which the signifier is perceived as resembling or imitating the signified (recognizably looking, sounding, feeling,
tasting or smelling like it) - being similar in possessing some of its qualities
Index
Semiotic in Literary Studies
Semiotics represents a range of studies in art,
literature, anthropology and the mass media rather than an independent academic discipline
Those involved in semiotics include linguists,
philosophers, psychologists, sociologists,
Semiotic in Literary Studies
Semiotic literary criticism, also called
literary semiotics, is the approach to
literary criticism informed by the theory of
signs or semiotics
Literary semiotics can be seen as a
branch of the general science of signs that
studies a particular group of texts within
Barthes’ Order of Signification
Divided into: Denotation, Connotation, and Myth
He develops this module base on Saussurean
concept of studying signs
denotation and connotation are terms describing
the relationship between the signifier and it’s signified, and an analytic distinction is made between two types of signified: a denotative signified and a connotative signified
Meaning includes both denotation and
Denotation
Denotation tends to be described as the
definitional, “literal”, “obvious”, or
“commonsense” meaning of a sign
the denotative meaning is what the
dictionary attempts to provide
Denotation is meaning of a sign in first
Connotation
Connotation is used to refer to the socio-cultural
and 'personal' associations (ideological, emotional etc.) of the sign
Connotation can be referred as meaning of a
sign in second level signification, higher than denotation meaning
Connotations are not purely 'personal' meanings
Connotation
Cultural codes provide a connotational
framework since they are 'organized
Myth
Myths were the dominant ideologies of our time
Barthes argues that the orders of signification called
denotation and connotation combine to produce ideology which has been described as a third order of signification
Myths serve the ideological function of naturalization.
Their function is to naturalize the cultural - in other
words, to make dominant cultural and historical values, attitudes and beliefs seem entirely 'natural', 'normal', self-evident, timeless, obvious 'common-sense' - and
