Signs and communication

Question 1

what is language?

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

study of signs

Answer 2

semiotics

Question 3

what is a sign?

Answer 3

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.”

Question 4

3 types of signs are…

Answer 4

1. Icons
2. Index
3. Symbol

Question 5

how are they classed?

Answer 5

in terms of the nature of the relationship between signifier and signified.

Question 6

Natural signs

Answer 6

fit to signify due to their intrinsic properties of form, physical relationship to what they stand for - indices.

Question 7

1. Icons

Answer 7

the signifier resembles what the sign signifies (stands for)
example - toilet - icon if its intended meaning is toilet

Question 8

A. Type of icon

Answer 8

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

Question 9

2. Index (indexical/indices)

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

A. Language indices

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Non-natural signs

Answer 11

fit to signify only due to agreed-upon convention
symbols

Question 12

3. Symbols

Answer 12

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’

Question 13

Communication studies

Answer 13

1. semiotics - study of how meanings are encoded and decoded via signs
2. communication theory - study of message making as a process

Question 14

Communication theory

Answer 14

model for determining efficiency of communication systems
- by Shannon and Weaver

Question 15

natural human communication systems

Answer 15

• natural language - spoken, signed
• gestures
• automatic responses (cry, laugh)

Question 16

electronic telecommunication systems

Answer 16

telegraph
radio, sms
internet

Question 17

The message model

Answer 17

source +encode message+ transmitter —-noise—-> receiver +decode message+ destination

Question 18

Communication systems design depends on:

Answer 18

1. nature of the messages to be transmitted
2. available technology for transmission and reception
3. physical properties of the transmission channel
4. desired levels of fidelity and efficiency

Question 19

Fidelity

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Efficiency

Answer 20

a measure of a communication systems use of resources
- space and time
- speed of communication - how much information can be transmitted per unit time

Question 21

Message

Answer 21

Messages are ‘objects’ with cognitive reality — desires, feelings, opinions, narratives

Question 22

Channel

Answer 22

Air

Question 23

Code

Answer 23

The language itself
- for human spoken language code = eg English
- for human signed language code = eg Auslan

Question 24

Signal

Answer 24

presented as sound waves, light, electrical current