Semiotics For Beginners: Well I guess that's me!

Semiotics..okay let’s see if I’ve got this straight.

I reread the 'Semiotics for Beginners' page, and now I think I'm good for my understanding of semiotics, hopefully this expresses my understanding well. Writing my semiotics paper will be so much easier now...

Semiotics is the study of signs with implicit and explicit meanings. Since it isn’t actually an academic study, it’s more of a theoretical study or analysis. It also is the study of distinguishing between :
"- semantics: the relationship of signs to what they stand for;
- syntactics (or syntax): the formal or structural relations between signs;
- pragmatics: the relation of signs to interpreters (Morris 1938, 6-7)." (1)

Also there is the notion of having a connotation, which is different from a denotation, which is also different from a myth about the certain text, so a tv show, image, literature, etc.

“Semiotics is important because it can help us not to take 'reality' for granted as something having a purely objective existence which is independent of human interpretation. It teaches us that reality is a system of signs. Studying semiotics can assist us to become more aware of reality as a construction and of the roles played by ourselves and others in constructing it. It can help us to realize that information or meaning is not 'contained' in the world or in books, computers or audio-visual media. Meaning is not 'transmitted' to us - we actively create it according to a complex interplay of codes or conventions of which we are normally unaware. Becoming aware of such codes is both inherently fascinating and intellectually empowering.” (2)

This is so true. It reminds me of when Britain claimed parts of Africa and imposed indirect rule. Africans thought they had control over the decisions made, but in reality Britain controlled and oppressed them. Soon, some Africans started to study literature and history. With this newfound knowledge, they understood their oppression and eventually realised they were being controlled. Britain is sort of like technology, signs and texts. Semiotics is the way that we, the Africans, can understand our oppression and how these texts influence or affect our social life.


Work Cited:
(1), (2) Chandler, Daniel. Semiotics for Beginners. Media and Communication Studies. April 3, 2005. Aberystwyth University. November 3, 2007.