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What is a "Sign"?
A Sign = Something which refers to something other than itself.
Signs can be literal "signs", such as a sale notice in a store window. Words and images are all signs (as they always refer to something besides themselves). Behaviors are often signs, as are mental concepts such as metaphors or equations that "stand for" some other reality.
Examples of the different parts of a SIGN -- the sign, its physical form, what it refers to (or "signifies"), and how it might be interpreted.
Sign |
Physical Form of the Sign |
Referent / Signified
What object or concept does the sign refer to? |
Mental Concept
The "sense" or interpretation of the sign |
Sandwich |
words, letters, or spoken sounds |
a particular food: two pieces of bread with something else edible between them is the determining factor |
- pastrami on rye
- PB & J
- lunch
- wedged between two things
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The stock market Bull |
photo, ink on paper, letters |
Male adult cow with horns. |
- Rising values on the Stock Market.
- Optimistic attitude about economy or a particular segment/stock.
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Slamming Door |
shutting a door with a loud noise (i.e. action plus sound) |
emotional state |
- anger
- carelessness
- hurry
- relief, safety
- rejecting
- poorly brought up
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Women's sign for rest room |
stylized figure, many possible materials. |
bathroom, toilet for women's use. |
- women's room
- gender notions (how woman represented)
- notion that genders should be separated in certain situations
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Blonde woman lounging on hood of a sleek sports car |
Photo.
Juxtaposition of woman and car. |
Car for sale |
- sexual desire
- speed
- the good life
- youth, beauty
- "making it"
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The next page Are signs "real"? looks at how signs communicate "reality" -- symbols and icons, analog vs digital signs, literal and cultural representations.
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