Representation is informed by Semiotics
Semiotics and how it comes about
"Representation connects meaning and language to culture." It is the "production of meaning through language."
Meaning if constructed through social groups. Constructivist approach recognises the social creation of meaning through language, and language is constructed of signs. These stand in place for things and concepts.
Signs are the most basic vehicle for meaning.
Iconic resemble the thing they represent
Indexical have no resemblance (abstract)
For example, words such as cow which is the indexical representation for the four-legged beast we’re familiar with.
“Any sound, word, image, or object [that] functions as a sign, and is organised with other signs into a system [that] is capable of carrying and expressing meaning is … ‘a language.’” Stuart Hall, 2013.
“Were there not some cultural consensus about the meaning of signs and symbols [that make up language] among members of a linguistic community communication would not be possible.” Davis, 2012, p.36
Example: Facebook Care emoji
Facebook has implemented a new Care emoji, which involves a smiley character hugging a heart shape. Here, we see the development of a sign character to visually represent the intended meaning of some people’s use of the Heart emoji to show their support. So far, there has been a social understanding that the Heart when used on a Facebook post of someone expressing pain, hurt, loneliness, or suffering has been a sign showing support, as opposed to “love” in a familial fashion or “like-a-lot”. Care fills this gap.
This connects to GRAP 2030 discussion regarding culture and the development of meaning involving different semiotic interpretations of hearts.
Iconic SignsDemonstrates similarity with something else. Eg. A painting, photograph or pictogram which bears resemblance to the thing it refers to.
Indexical signsSign and object less closely related. Strong similarity to object but not a representation. For example, smoke meaning fire, scratchy red skin as irritation, fingerprints identifying a criminal
Symbolic SignsConnection between object and sign is not obvious and interpretation of meaning is constructed through social agreement
Semiotics is the study and analysis of signs.
The study of meaning-making through the use of signs and sign systems.
Communication is about sending one idea from one person to another via the use of signs and sign systems so that the meaning I intend can be accurately interpreted and responded to by the person receiving the message.
Sign symbolises, stands in for, or acts, as a substitute or surrogate for things (objects, places, people, phenomena) or concepts (abstracts ideas, feelings).
Ferdinand de Saussure
Linguistics – sender focus
“Language is a system of signs. Sounds, images, written words, paintings, photographs, etc. function as signs within language only when they serve to express or communicate ideas. To communicate ideas they must be part of a system of conventions.”
Grammar and syntax structures are rigid but meaning and interpretation is not.
Sign = signified (concept) + signifier (form)
So, the signified is the thing meaning to be represented and the signifier is how we present that meaning.
1. Signified is the idea, concept or phenomena
2. Signifier is the form or thing use to represent this
His concerns were focused primarily on linguistic study only—text and speech.
Charles Sanders Peirce
Social constructs – reader focus
“A sign … is something which stands to somebody for something in some respect or capacity. It addresses somebody, that is, creates in the mind of that person an equivalent sign, or perhaps more developed sign.”
Greater focus on signs themselves and focuses on the reader of the sign and the communication process.
Sign = iconic (direct) & indexical (indirect) & symbolic (arbitrary)
1. Iconic resembles object / concept and represents the thing it depicts
2. Indexical relates to the meaning of the object / concept depicted but does not resemble it. This includes cause and effect where the presence of one thing has some vague connection to something else.
3. Symbolic has no resemblance to the object / concept and meaning is developed culturally.
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