Mehedy Hasan Sahad

The Theory of Sign-C. S. Peirce MEHEDI HASAN SAHAD Semiotics  Semiotics is the study of sign. This is the term that C. S. Peirce used to refer to the study of sign.  An alternative term of ‘Semiotics’ is ‘Semiology’. The term ‘Semiology’ is mostly used by the scholars who adopted Saussurean point of view. Classification of Sign According to Peirce, there are three kinds of sign. ➢ ICON ➢ Symbol ➢ CODE ICON  Icons are the things that reveal similarities to their referent. Icon is the visual demonstration of the referent. When the signifier and the referent have the highest amount of similarity between them, then it will be called an Icon.  Icon means the highest level of similarity.  For example, a photograph or a painting of tree is an Icon of tree that exists on the real world. SYMBOL  When there is a relationship between the signifier and the referent but not that much of ICON, then it would be called Symbol. Symbol is less significant than an Icon. It doesn’t bear the strong resemblance that Icon does.  Symbol is the mid level of similarity.  For example, the sign that is inserted below is a Danger Symbol. Though it has a little connection with actual danger. CODE  Code is a thing that doesn’t have any relationship between the signifier and the referent. When the signifier and the referent don’t have any similarity, it will be called a Code. There is no inherent relationship between the signifier and the referent.  Code is the lowest level of similarity.  Every written form or an utterance form of signifier is a code.  We can assign any meaning to a Code. Value of Similarity ICON - Highest level of Similarity SYMBOL - Mid level of Similarity CODE - Lowest level of Similarity