Signs and communication Flashcards
what is language?
a system of human communication based on speech sounds/hand signs used as arbitrary symbols
- arbitrary (no similarity to signified ie. the feature it represents)
study of signs
semiotics
what is a sign?
signifier – stands for –> signified
- relationship between 2 entities
- one stands for/calls to mind, the other entity
- interpretation of stimulus makes a sign
“a stimulus which once perceived and identified is interpreted.”
3 types of signs are…
- Icons
- Index
- Symbol
how are they classed?
in terms of the nature of the relationship between signifier and signified.
Natural signs
fit to signify due to their intrinsic properties of form, physical relationship to what they stand for - indices.
- Icons
the signifier resembles what the sign signifies (stands for)
example - toilet - icon if its intended meaning is toilet
A. Type of icon
Imagic = resemblance between the whole sign and its object
Diagrammatic = The relative positions of the parts of the sign reflect the structure of its object. eg. maps
- Index (indexical/indices)
sign that is fit to signify because it bears a real, material relationship (cause, effect) to what is signifies (stands for)
- not direct resemblance
eg. gendered signs - meaning male, female. vulture circling means food near.
A. Language indices
- I, you, there. partially indexical
- onomatopoeia - denote a sound, which resembles the sound it refers to. eg. meow, ribbit.
- iconic lengthening - ‘biiig’ ‘scaaary’. longer vowel more intensive meaning
- reduplication - repeating part/all of word
Non-natural signs
fit to signify only due to agreed-upon convention
symbols
- Symbols
sign fit to signify due to agreement among users, that is has particular meaning.
- arbitrary
- conventional - depend on an understanding between users
EG - stop sign, symbolic, no resemblance/physyical connection to stopping with red, octagon shape
- eg. words, like ‘dog’
Communication studies
- semiotics - study of how meanings are encoded and decoded via signs
- communication theory - study of message making as a process
Communication theory
model for determining efficiency of communication systems
- by Shannon and Weaver
natural human communication systems
- natural language - spoken, signed
- gestures
- automatic responses (cry, laugh)
electronic telecommunication systems
telegraph
radio, sms
internet
The message model
source +encode message+ transmitter —-noise—-> receiver +decode message+ destination
Communication systems design depends on:
- nature of the messages to be transmitted
- available technology for transmission and reception
- physical properties of the transmission channel
- desired levels of fidelity and efficiency
Fidelity
measure of the correspondence between the encoded message and the decoded message
- the closer the correspondence, the higher the fidelity
- minimising noise in the channel of communication improves fidelity
Efficiency
a measure of a communication systems use of resources
- space and time
- speed of communication - how much information can be transmitted per unit time
Message
Messages are ‘objects’ with cognitive reality — desires, feelings, opinions, narratives
Channel
Air
Code
The language itself
- for human spoken language code = eg English
- for human signed language code = eg Auslan
Signal
presented as sound waves, light, electrical current
