A linguistic sign is a fundamental concept in semiotics, introduced by Ferdinand de Saussure, consisting of the signifier (sound or written form) and the signified (concept it represents), which together create meaning. This arbitrary and conventional relationship between signifier and signified is central to understanding how language functions as a system of signs.

Linguistic Sign

linguistic sign

fundamental concept

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior, exploring how meaning is constructed and understood. It examines the relationship between signifiers, what they represent, and the cultural and contextual factors that influence interpretation.

semiotics

Ferdinand de Saussure was a Swiss linguist whose ideas laid the foundation for many developments in the study of language, particularly structuralism. His theory of the linguistic sign, which separates the 'signifier' from the 'signified', revolutionized the understanding of how meaning is constructed in language.

Ferdinand de Saussure

A signifier is a fundamental component of semiotics, representing the physical form of a sign as perceived through the senses, such as a word, image, or sound. It is distinct from the 'signified', which is the mental concept or meaning that the signifier conveys, together forming a 'sign' as per Saussurean semiotic theory.

signifier

written form

The 'signified' is a central concept in semiotics, referring to the mental concept or meaning that a sign represents. It is distinct from the 'signifier,' which is the form that the sign takes, such as a word, sound, or image.

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