Semiotics Lesson

Summary

In this educational video, Loretta Hannah explores semiotics, the study of signs and symbols. She introduces key theorists like Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Peirce, and explains the concepts of signifiers and signifieds. Hannah delves into different types of signs: icons, symbols, and indexes, and discusses denotation and connotation. The video uses examples like the Facebook logo and MTV to illustrate these concepts, emphasizing how semiotics helps us understand that reality is a construct of signs and symbols.

Takeaways

• 📚 Semiotic is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.
• 👨‍🏫 Ferdinand de Saussure is one of the founders of semiotics, known for creating the concepts of signifier and signified.
• 🧑‍🏫 Charles Sanders Peirce is another founder of semiotics, who introduced the idea that anything can be a sign if it is interpreted as having meaning.
• 🔍 Signs are divided into signifiers (the physical forms of a sign) and signified (the concept the signifier refers to).
• 🌐 Examples of signifiers include sounds, words, or images that create communication.
• 📺 The meaning of a sign (signified) can vary among different generations or cultures.
• 🔑 Signifiers can be categorized into icons (physical resemblance to the signified), symbols (learned culturally), and indexes (physical connection to the signified).
• 📖 Denotation is the literal or dictionary definition of a word, while connotation refers to the social, cultural, or emotional meanings associated with a sign.
• 🏢 Analyzed examples include the Forever 21 logo, footprints in snow, and the American flag to illustrate concepts of signifiers, signified, denotation, and connotation.
• 🌟 Understanding semiotics helps us to recognize that reality is a system of signs constructed through human interpretation.

Q & A

What is semiotic?

Semiotic is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.

Who are the two founders of semiotic?

The two founders of semiotic are Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist, and Charles Sanders Peirce, an American philosopher.

What are the key concepts introduced by Ferdinand de Saussure?

Ferdinand de Saussure introduced the concepts of 'signifier' and 'signified'.

What is the concept of 'sign' in semiotic?

A sign in semiotic is broken down into two parts: the signifier, which is the physical form of the sign, and the signified, which is the concept the signifier refers to.

How are signs categorized in semiotic?

Signs are categorized into three types: icons, symbols, and indexes.

What is an icon in semiotic?

An icon in semiotic has a physical resemblance to the signified. For example, a photo of a mustache resembles the actual mustache.

What is a symbol in semiotic?

A symbol in semiotic does not resemble the signifier it represents and is learned culturally. An example is the male and female icons representing toilet facilities.

What is an index in semiotic?

An index in semiotic describes the physical connection between a signifier and the signified, where the signifier cannot exist without the physical presence of the signified, such as smoke and fire.

What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

Denotation is the literal meaning of a word, as defined in a dictionary, while connotation represents the various social overtones, cultural implications, or emotional meanings associated with a sign.

How can semiotic help us understand reality?

Semiotic can help us understand that reality is not purely objective but a system of signs and symbols that are interpreted by humans, teaching us that reality is a construction.

What is the significance of understanding semiotic in everyday life?

Understanding semiotic can make us more aware of the roles we and others play in constructing reality through the interpretation of signs and symbols.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Semiotics

Loretta Hannah introduces the concept of semiotics, which is the study of signs and symbols and their interpretation. She discusses key theorists such as Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Peirce, who laid the foundations of semiotics. Saussure's concepts of signifier and signified are explained, where the signifier is the physical form of a sign (like a sound or image) and the signified is the concept it represents. Hannah uses the example of the word 'Facebook' to illustrate this. She also covers different types of signs: icons, which resemble what they represent; symbols, which are culturally learned and do not resemble what they represent; and indexes, which have a physical connection to what they represent. The example of smoke indicating fire is used to explain indexes.

05:02

🔍 Deep Dive into Signs and Their Meanings

This section delves deeper into the concepts of denotation and connotation. Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word, while connotation encompasses the social, cultural, or emotional meanings associated with a sign. Hannah uses the example of a dog to show how different people might have different connotations based on their experiences. The analysis of the signifier 'forever21' is also discussed, where its denotation is defined as an American fast fashion retailer, and its connotation varies from fashionable to cheaply made, depending on the viewer's perspective. The exercise continues with identifying icons, symbols, and indexes in various images, such as footprints in snow and the American flag.

10:05

🌟 Applying Semiotics to Understand Reality

In the final paragraph, the speaker, now identified as Logan Hannah, emphasizes the importance of semiotics in understanding that reality is a social construction and that our interpretations play a significant role in shaping it. Hannah encourages viewers to reflect on the semiotics they encounter daily and to be more aware of the roles they play in constructing reality. The video concludes with a prompt for viewers to revisit any parts of the video they found challenging and to consider their own examples of semiotics.

Keywords

💡Semiotics

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation. It is the main theme of the video, as it explores how different signs and symbols convey meaning. The video dives into the foundational theories of semiotics, including the work of key theorists like Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Peirce, who laid the groundwork for understanding how signs function and are interpreted in human communication.

💡Signifier

A signifier is the physical form of a sign, such as a sound, word, or image, that creates communication. It is a core concept in semiotics. In the video, the signifier is exemplified by the word 'Facebook', which is the physical form that represents the concept of the social media platform.

💡Signified

The signified is the concept that the signifier refers to. It is the mental concept associated with the signifier. The video explains this with the example of 'Facebook', where different people might associate it with social media, friends, family, or entertainment, depending on their experiences and cultural context.

💡Icon

An icon in semiotics has a physical resemblance to the signified. It is a type of sign where the form visually represents the concept. The video uses the example of a mustache, where even a stylized drawing of a mustache is recognizable as such due to its physical resemblance.

💡Symbol

A symbol is a sign that does not physically resemble the signified but is culturally learned and understood. Symbols carry meaning that is not inherent in their form but is agreed upon within a culture. The video gives the example of male and female icons for restrooms, which are not visually similar to their signified but are universally understood due to cultural convention.

💡Index

An index is a sign that has a physical connection to the signified, meaning the signifier cannot exist without the signified. It is a direct link between the sign and what it represents. The video illustrates this with the example of smoke, which cannot exist without fire, thus the smoke (signifier) is an index of the fire (signified).

💡Denotation

Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word. It is the precise, unambiguous meaning of a term. In the video, the denotation is exemplified by defining 'dog' as a domesticated carnivorous mammal, focusing on the objective characteristics.

💡Connotation

Connotation represents the emotional, social, or cultural associations that a sign might evoke, beyond its literal meaning. It is the broader set of meanings that a signifier can carry. The video contrasts connotation with denotation by suggesting that a photo of a dog might bring feelings of happiness or fear, depending on individual experiences.

💡Saussure

Ferdinand de Saussure is one of the founders of semiotics and a key theorist discussed in the video. He is known for his concepts of the signifier and signified, and for differentiating between language as a system (langue) and speech (parole). His work is foundational to understanding how language functions as a system of signs.

💡Peirce

Charles Sanders Peirce, the other founder of semiotics, is highlighted in the video for his concept that anything can be a sign if it is interpreted as having meaning. Peirce's work expands the scope of semiotics beyond language to include all forms of signification, emphasizing the role of interpretation in creating meaning.

Highlights

Semiotics is defined as the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.

Ferdinand de Saussure is one of the founders of semiotics, known for creating signifier and signified concepts.

Charles Sanders Peirce is the second founder of semiotics, known for the concept that anything can be a sign.

Semiotics deals with both concrete examples like physical signs and abstract concepts like denotation and connotation.

Signs are divided into signifiers, which are the physical forms, and the signified, which is the concept they refer to.

An example of a signifier is the sound or letters that we interpret as the word 'Facebook'.

Different generations may associate different meanings with the same signifier, like MTV.

Signifiers can be categorized into icons, symbols, and indexes.

Icons have a physical resemblance to the signified, like a photo resembling a mustache.

Symbols do not resemble the signified and are culturally learned, like male and female icons for toilets.

Indexes describe a physical connection between a signifier and the signified, such as smoke indicating fire.

Denotation is the literal meaning of a word, as defined in a dictionary.

Connotation represents the social, cultural, or emotional meanings associated with a sign.

Semiotics helps to understand that reality is a system of signs constructed by human interpretation.

Analyzing a company's sign, like 'Forever 21', involves identifying the signifier and the signified.

Denotation and connotation can be identified by analyzing the literal meaning and the associated feelings of a sign.

Examples like footprints in snow and the American flag are used to differentiate between icons, symbols, and indexes.

Semiotics teaches us to be aware of reality as a construction and our role in it.

The lesson concludes with practical examples to test understanding of semiotics concepts.

Transcripts

hello everyone my name is Loretta Hannah

and today we'll be talking about

semiotic semiotic by definition is the

study of signs and symbols and their use

or interpretation before we dive into

semiotic let's learn about a couple key

theorists Friedman keys to soar is one

of the two founders of semiotic so slur

was a Swiss linguist who's responsible

for creating designed signifier

signified concepts which we will get

into shortly the second founder of

semiotic sistar sanders peirce an

american philosopher who is responsible

for creating the we only think in

science concept where anything is

considered a sign as long as someone

interprets it as having meaning other

than itself semiotic

deals with concrete examples such as

physical signs and more abstract

concepts such as denotation and

connotation

we'll begin this quick lesson with signs

signs are broken down into two parts

signifiers and the signified signifiers

are the physical forms of a sign such as

a sound word or image that create a

communication let's go over an example

together and then you can try one on

your own

when we look at this image the signifier

is the sound of the spoken word or

string of letters in this case we read

this as Facebook

now it's your turn what is the physical

form of the sign what is the sound word

or image creating communication if you

said MTV Music Television you're

absolutely right to an older generation

MTV might mean music videos running all

day but to another generation and may

mean reality and competition shows these

different meanings of a sign bring us to

the signified the signified is the

concept that is signifier refers to

let's go back to our original example

what concepts come to mind when you see

this image for some it may be social

media others may think of friends family

or entertainment

now signifiers can be categorized into

three different types of signs icons

symbols and indexes an icon has a

physical resemblance to the signified

for example when we see this photo what

comes to mind a mustache right well what

if I show you this picture are you still

able to recognize the mustache yes even

though it looks different from the first

one it's physical resemblance let us

know that it's still a mustache

a symbol is the opposite of an icon so

it does not resemble the signifier that

is being represented symbols are learned

culturally which explains why cultures

can develop different and unique traits

we learn what symbols mean over time a

common example of a symbol is the male

and female icons representing the

presence of toilet facilities let's

imagine we had never seen humans before

and we're told that this is what a woman

and a man look like we probably wouldn't

infer them that this woman and man were

in fact the same species lastly we have

indexes an index describes the physical

connection between a signifier and the

signified this means that the signifier

cannot exist without the physical

presence of the signified let's look at

an example of this concept smoke cannot

exist about fire within this example

this signifier is smoke which leads to

the signified being fire if we saw a big

cloud of black smoke in the distance the

concept that typically comes to mind is

that it's coming from a fire now that we

understand the basics of science let's

talk about denotation and connotation

the notation is the literal meaning of a

word think about it in dictionary terms

so for example doc a dog is defined as a

domesticated carnivorous mammal that

typically has a long snout and acute

sense of smell and a barking howling or

whining voice

connotation represents the various

social overtones cultural implications

or emotional meanings associated with a

sign for example if I show a group of

people this photo of a dog to one person

and may invoke a happy memory of a

much-loved pet while another person may

be remembering being chased by a dog and

possibly feeling scared now that we've

gone over the key terms of semiotic

let's analyze a few images here we have

a sign representing a well-known company

take a moment to identify the signifier

if you said forever21 you're correct

remember the signifier is the forum

design or the word takes what's the

signifying the signified will vary

depending on who you are and where you

are did you say fashion clothes either

of these are correct how can we identify

the denotation if you set a dictionary

definition you're right forever 21 is an

American chain of fast fashion retailers

with its headquarters in Los Angeles

lastly what is the connotation to some

an may be cute fashionable clothes to

others and a new inexpensive and cheaply

made clothes great job let's test your

knowledge of semiotic a little more next

I'll be showing you an image and you'll

identify whether it's an icon symbol or

index take a moment and analyze this

photo are the footprints in the snow an

icon symbol or index

if you set index you're correct the

footprints cannot exist without a person

stepping through the snow what is a

signified in this photo

if you said someone walking in snow

you're correct again lastly what would

be the signifier if you said the

footprints you're absolutely right great

work let's look at another image is this

image a representation of an icon symbol

or index if you said symbol you're

correct

this simple figure does not resemble the

signifier that is being represented in

this case a home which in reality can

look like this this or even then you're

doing great let's try a couple more are

we looking at an icon symbol or index

if you said icon your click this icon

has a physical resemblance to the

signifier

remember the mustache example similarly

its physical resemblance to the icon let

us know it's indeed a bicycle amazing

work let's try one more icon symbol or

index if you said symbol you're right

again the American flag represents the

United States of America but it is not

how our country actually looks now that

we've gone over various aspects of signs

let's close this lesson with test

examples of denotation and connotation

let's analyze this photo if I state

words like peace tranquility gentleness

harmony is this the

station or connotation of the symbol it

is the connotation of the symbol

remember that connotation represents the

various social overtones cultural

implications or emotional meanings

associated with the sign let's look at

this photo if I state that this is the

round fruit of a tree which typically

has then red or green skin and crisp

flesh am I giving the denotation for

connotation of the symbol it is the

denotation or dictionary definition of

the word apple the Apple is sitting on

books atop a desk with a blackboard in

the back which can convey a connotation

of education great job hopefully you

understand a little more about semiotics

and all its basic semiotic is important

because it can help us not to take

reality for granted as something having

a purely objective existence which is

independent of human interpretation it

teaches us that reality is a system of

science setting semiotics can assist us

to become more aware of reality as a

construction and if the roles played by

ourselves and others in constructing it

feel free to go back and re-watch any

parts you didn't get a good enough grasp

on try and think of your own examples of

science you see around you every day

again my name is Logan Hannah thank you

for watching