Semiotics Test 1

Question 1

Sign

Answer 1

A sign is something that stands for something else in some respect or capacity. A sign refers to the referent

Question 2

Two types of referents

Answer 2

Concrete: the animal designated by the word cat
Abstract: bright light to signify “idea”

Question 3

Image concept

Answer 3

The image concept is created by the signifier. 
3 types: 
1) Superordinate 
2) Prototypical 
3) Subordinate

Question 4

Semiotic method

Answer 4

Synchronic - study at a given point in time, usually the present
Diachronic - changes in form and meaning over time

Question 5

Denotation

Answer 5

Basic Meaning. main denotative signification is implied but it is expanded by connotative structures

Question 6

Connotation

Answer 6

Not basic meanings. the core of semiotics. Connotative signification is very often culturally motivated.

Question 7

Culture

Answer 7

system of connotative meanings that create an associative macro-code that allows people to interact purposefully and think about the universe in a specific manner (knowledge, belief, art, morals, customs etc.).
Both restrictive and liberating
1) impose fixed systems of signification
2) provide resources to seek/create new meanings
Culture influences every aspect of life (attitudes, beliefs, world views and even the manner in which one perceives the world)

Question 8

Semiosphere

Answer 8

the region (not necessarily physical) that sustains social life that sustains knowledge - making and representational activities. 
Culture as a system of signs, can be reshaped by humans

Question 9

Semiosis

Answer 9

capacity to produce and understand signs

Question 10

Codes

Answer 10

Sign systems (language/music/dress/gestures are all codes)

1) Intellectual code (not very flexible)
2) Social code (flexible)
3) Food code (flexible)

Question 11

Iconicity

Answer 11

Resemble what they are representing: photographs, portraits, maps, Roman numerals, etc.
Onomatopoeic visual iconic signs - slash/bang/drip

Question 12

Indexicality (3 types)

Answer 12

Most typical: pointing index finger, used to point out and locate things and events. Words like here/there/up/down can also be indexes
Spatial - spatial locations of things/people
Temporal - relations now/before/etc.
Personal - participants taking part in an action/situation; I/she/the one, etc.

Question 13

Symbolic

Answer 13

a symbol stands for somthing in a conventional manner. It is always arbitrary - no immediate relationship between X and Y

Question 14

Modes of representation to create a sign or text

Answer 14

Iconic, indexical and symbolic

Question 15

Body signs (non verbal semiotics)

Answer 15

2/3 signs produced by body 
700,000 -+ physical signs 
1,000 +- postures 
5,000 +- hand gestures 
250,000 +- facial expressions 

body signs are also code of how one (often semiopheres) perceives ones body. there are much more than physical attitudes as they tend to regulate social situations (winks, hand gestures, postures)

Question 16

Non verbal signs

Answer 16

usually have a social function of regulating self-other relations
Body signs are all codes of how one (often semiopheres) perceives one’s body
more than physical attitudes as they tend to regulate social situations (winks, hand gestures, posters)
Mostly not natural and are based on historically relevant conventions

Question 17

2 main types of body signs

Answer 17

Witting –> intentional; humans
Unwitting –> unintentional: animals/humans

Usually signs in most animals are innate and are the product of internal and/or external stimuli

1) survival
2) social interaction
3) pragmatic activities

Question 18

facial expressions

Answer 18

witting and unwitting in humans
cross cultural
face purveyor of selfhood/persona permeates the semiospheres

reason why we have so many expressions that reinforce the perception that the face is a sign representing the entire person:
1) we argued face to face
2) dont show your face around here
3) he’s just another pretty face
4) he lost face
this underlines the function of portrature: often a signifier of the self

non verbal signs are processed differently than from word. - smiling staring, clenching fists - processed in lower and more primitive areas
spoken language is processed in the cerebral cortex

Question 19

Eye contact

Answer 19

not unique to human species. Dog-direct stare used as a threat.
usually in animals - eye contact is unwitting
in humans - contact patterns transcend biological processes reflecting cultural meanings and social interactions

Question 20

Body Language

Answer 20

communication with gestures, postures
they can be witting, unwitting or both
scientific study of body language = kinesics
kinesics codes regulate how people behave in certain social situations - stomach noise, coughing
powerful in courtship displays

Question 21

Touch

Answer 21

Tactile code - handshaking
tactile and haptic code - the study of touch in general
haptic code - patting on arm, shoulder, linking, intimacy

lip touching - tactile behaviour that is a mystery. known as erotic here but not universal (rub noses)

Patting someone on the arm/hugging/holding hands, etc.

Great variation of tactile/hapti codes across cultures. Reason unknown, perhaps conditioned by how one’s skin is perceived relative to one’s Body

different zones of privacy and personal/work norms / behaviours used that would be deemed inappropriate in some work environments than others
Usually, but not necessarily regulated by semiosphere

kissing not always erotic. Not even lip touching is always erotic.

Erotic kissing evolutionary and cultural phenomenon?

Mock sucking/mock feeding? (erogenous zones)

Not present in all cultures

Question 22

Gesture

Answer 22

Use of hands, arms, and to a lesser extent other parts of the body. some cross-cultural similarities but also many differences

Head gestures for yes and no may have opposite meanings in different cultures

kids use gestures - different languages.

many semioticians see gestures as more fundamental way of communicating that vocal language (origin of communication?)

Humans tend to see much more than what is there when “interpreting” animal signs

Clever Hans - German talking horse - would react not to a question but to inadvertent “body language” of owner/questioner

gestures used in speech 
iconic gesticulants 
metaphoric gesticulants 
beat gestiuclant 
cohesive gesticulants 
deictic gesticulants

Question 23

Gestures & Language

Answer 23

Illustrators: illustrate vocal utterances
Emblems: Directly translate words/phrases
Affect display: emotional meanings
regulators: Monitor and maintain control over someone else’s speech
adaptors: satisfy some need (often an unconscious moment)

Question 24

Dancing functions

Answer 24

Aesthetic: expressing moods, telling a story
Ritual: serving a function
social: community function of belonging
Courtship: sexual, intimate

Question 25

Visual Signs

Answer 25

images are coded culturally

mental pictures produced will very likely be the same amongst people belonging in the same semiosphere

Question 26

prototypical image

Answer 26

is what I primarily produced to represent a mental image in a given culture. In our semiosphere: i.e. equilateral triangle ; household cat

Question 27

Impediment Schema

Answer 27

mental outline which relates a physical experience to often better express/ understand a nonphysical experience

i.e: get over a cold: get through a difficult time: steer clear of debts, etc.

Question 28

Colour

Answer 28

Ability to perceive colour is culturally based.
Not all cultures see all variations of colour (hue) and thus do not distinguish colours as other people may
Use of colour in connotative ways
red carpet: into the red: red tap: blues (music): to be blue (sad) etc.
Colour also conveys mood, feeling, atmosphere (warm, soft, cold, harsh)
colour also have strong culturally specific connotations
yellow - nobility
yellow - cowardice

Question 29

Visual representation

Answer 29

visual signifiers
point, lines and shapes
there straight lines = endless possibilities
react different to lines that are modulated differently
lines can also coney texture

Basic geometric forms are imbued with symbolism across the world:
square: earths surface in antiquity
triangle: trinity, perfection, balance
circle: perfection
cross addition, Christian symbol
Signature multiplication, indicating prohibition, something forbidden