|
| |
semiotics: the study of how signs and symbols relate to
the things they represent. As becomes evident in discussions about culture, the
meaning of a sign or symbol is not fixed; it varies over time, in different
contexts, and by the intent of the speaker/writer. The relationship between a
symbol or sign and what it represents can also be contested -- different
individuals or groups of individuals might have different views on the content
of a specific sign/signified relationship (as is the case with the word "culture").
Someone interested in this process of meaning-making -- a semiotician --
might study the process by which contested meanings arise and are resolved.
| |
|
