VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication of the vocal category includes spoken language.
Nonvocal verbal communication involves written communication as well as communication that is transmitted through transmitted through sign language, finger spelling, Braille, or other similar alternatives to verbal language.
Semiotics
An application of linguistic principals to objects other than natural language, such as facial expression or religious ritual
Academic study focusing on both the signification of language (assigning and deriving meaning from signs ) as well as its codification (attachment of rules and procedures for correct use)
Theory or study of signs, specifically the theoretical relationship between language and signs or symbols used in the transmission of language
Semiotics identifies three types of signs: symbols, indices and icons.
A symbol stands in place of an object. It may be a physical object such as a flag standing for patriotism and national pride or a word or phrase, such as the “Allaho Akbar” printed in Arabic on flags or head bands.
An index points to something beyond itself. It is an indicator, such as words like "big" and arrows.
An icon is a representation of an object that produces a mental image of the object represented.
History of Semiotics
Saussure identified two aspects of a sign: a “concept” or a signified and a “sound pattern” or a signifier
Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914) is considered the founder of semiotics in the American tradition.
His premise was that an understanding of reality requires language, and that without language we have no way of analyzing or understanding the world around us.
consists of an object (the idea or reality being conveyed) and an interpretant(the meaning of the sign)
The formal study of semiotics is associated with Ferdinand Saussure (1857-1913)
he taught that a sign (which he called technically, representamen) is the way human beings convey meaning
For example, [drawing in history book] is the sign or representamen of [person], who is the object.
Peirce identified three types of signs
An icon is a sign that resembles its referent object
An index is a sign that has a causal relationship with its referent; that is, with some physical or presumed connection
A symbol is a sign that is created arbitrarily, with no specific relationship to its reference, such as the letter written as M in Roman script, which symbolizes the same sound as the Arabic letter the sound “mmm.”
Sometimes both indexes and symbols are used
Saussure identified three aspects of a sign: a signified (an abstract concept or idea in the mind), a signifier (the vehicle carrying the meaning) and a sign itself.
Emile Benveniste introduced a third categorization of signs that distinguished between form and substance, identifying the different types of signs.
Linguistic signs are learned.
Iconic signs are pictures, television images, computer graphics, and so on.
Social decorum signs include expressions of gratitude and courtesies.
Regulative signs are used for social control, such as traffic signs or “No Smoking” postings.
Monetary signs reflect the values of economic life.
Religious signs are used in rituals and in understanding and transmitting beliefs.
Artistic signs are figurative images used for music and fine arts, such as musical notation or calligraphy.
The notion of semiotics has application in many different areas.
Consider the situation of a television interview, in which camera shots serve as signifiers to various signified aspects of a screen.
A long shot, with the camera lens apparently far away from the subject, signifies public distance and social relationships
A medium shot with the lens moderately close to the subject signifies a personal relationship
A close-up show signifies emotional intimacy.