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Language is a shared system
of symbols that permits “sharing” meaning.
Semiotics is the study of “Signs.”
A
sign is something that stands for (represents) something else. A sign is composed composed of two parts:
The SIGNIFIER – the tangible portion of the
sign
The SIGNIFIED – the concept or idea represented
Types of Signs
1.
Icon - the relation between
the signifier and the signified is resemblance
2.
Index - the relation between
the signifier and the signified is “points toward,” or associated with
3.
Symbol - the relation between
the signifier and the signified is arbitrary. Symbols are
ambiguous and abstract
Other Semiotic terms: semantics, syntactics,
pragmatics, denotation, connotation, text
Paradigm - a set of related signs
Schemata - patterns we use to interpret a particular "text,"
(includes Myth and Archetype)
Levels of language use (Rules Theory)
1.
Speech Act – an
uninterrupted message
2.
Episode - a series of
speech acts all following the same set of “rules”
3.
Relationship - the sum
of all episodes that can occur between two (or more) people
4.
Life Script - an
individual’s general approach to relationships and episodes over time
5.
Cultural Pattern - kind,
frequency and range of episodes and relationships available to people within a
culture.
Principles of Symbolic, Verbal Communication
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Interpretation Creates Meaning
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Communication is rule-guided
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regulative rules specify when, how, where, and
with whom we can talk - what's appropriate when and where..
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constitutive rules tell us how to attach meaning
to interaction (e.g. what counts as respect, affection.
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punctuation affects meaning. (e.g. trying to
determine "who started it")
The
book Eats, Shoots and Leaves...a Zero Tolerance Approach to
Punctuation by Lynne Truss has an example of punctuation
effects:
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Dear Jack,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are
generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit
to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other
men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're
apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours? Jill
New
punctuation, same words:
Dear Jack,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are
generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit
to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other
men I yearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're
apart I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours, Jill
Functions
of verbal language
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Symbols define - They provide meaning(s) we attach to
concepts, create boundaries. Language affects the way we see the world.
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Symbols evaluate - provide links to values and
attitudes positive and negative
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Symbols organize perceptions - tell us what goes with
what (symbol spheres). They connect events and
objects (name and transmit patterns) – Language is a kind of knowledge
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Symbols allow self-reflection.
Intrapersonal (I & Me conversations - self monitoring). [Note
connections to language in the chapters on perception and identity.]
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Language makes us human!!
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