Semiotics
From Geography
Semiotics is the practice of writing, ‘language’, and reading signs (Knox & Marston, 2010). Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) is regarded as the ‘father of linguistics’ (Hall, 1997). In the late 19th and early 20th century his model of language, together with Charles Sanders Peirce, led to the emergence of semiotics as a method for examining phenomena in different cultural fields, including aesthetics, anthropology, communications, psychology, and semantics (N.D., n.d. & Hall, 1997). Interest in the structure behind the use of particular signs links semiotics with the methods of structuralism and post-structuralism (N.D., n.d.). In the Twentieth century there has become more and more attention for language and communication in social sciences and so for semiotics. It has become a key in social and philosophical writing and is used by many influential thinkers (Purvis, Hunt, 1993).
Semiotics is not concerned with the relations between signs and things but with the interrelationships between signs themselves, within their structured systems or codes of signification (1). The semiotic approach to literary works stresses the production of literary meanings from shared conventions and codes. But the scope of semiotics goes beyond spoken or written language to other kinds of communicative sign systems such as cinema, advertising, clothing, gesture et cetera (Chandler, 2001).
These signs and symbols are social constructions formed by arbitration and conventions and is transferred via social interaction (Helmhout, Jorna, Gazendam, 2009). An actor should give a meaning to the signs and signals formed by social constructions to become a semiotic actor. Through social constructs a semiotic actor can infer the meaning of conditions or actions (ibid.). These social constructs are formed and become normative if perceptions are shared between people. This can be within a community but on larger scale is possible as well. Therefore semiotic actors construct the social world together (Helmhout, Jorna, Gazendam, 2009).
There are different kinds of semiotics. A difference can be made between ‘social’ and ‘structural’ semiotics in respect to signs and language. ‘Structural semiotics’ is about the system and structure of signs and codes. Structural semioticans are interested how semiotic rules and structures make people. They are inspired by writings of for example Saussure and Mauss (Vannini, 2007). ‘Social semiotics’ is more focused on the origin of meaning and the motives and goals (Ibid.). Structural semiotics doesn’t concern so much for individuals and their attitude or behavior if they’re not symbolized in a system (Vannini, 2007). Social semoiticans find inspiration in for example Pierce, Volosinov and Foucault (Ibid.). There is a difference between ‘specific’ and ‘general’ semiotics as well. ‘General semiotics’ is nothing else but a ‘good’ philosophy of language are concerned with all the semiotic questions in literature and the world. ‘Specific semiotics’ have effect on specific sets of knowledge. Sometimes they contribute them to enrich them or borrow their ideas from general semiotics (Eco, 1976).
In respect of geography, semiotics can be applied on the landscape, space, place and messages. Geographers can 'read' this by researching the signs and finding meanings in it. These meanings are for every individual different (Knox & Marston, 2010).
A geographical example
An example of semiotics is the fact that all the human beings here on earth try to dress themselves (Knox & Marston, 2010). Through their clothes individuals can send signs, messages to each other and the rest of the world. These signs represent who they are and what they value. For example Goths and Punks dress in certain clothes and belong to a certain group. They give signs (clothes, piercings, music, texts et cetera) to show this to each other and the rest of the world. The signs can’t stand by themselves. If you just listen to that kind of music, you don’t necessarily refer it to Punks. But if you see/read it together with the clothes and for example the way of living then you give the signs a certain meaning.
(1) See also: paradigm and syntagm
References
Chandler, D. (2001, Februari 19). Semiotics for beginners. Encoding/decoding. Retrieved Septermber 29, 2010 from[1]
Eco, U. (1976). A Theory of Semiotics. Bompiani: Indiana University Press.
Hemhout, M., Jorna, R.J., Gazendam, H.W. (2009). The semiotic actor: From signs to scoially constructed meaning. Semiotica, 175, p335-377.
Knox, P.L. & Marston, S.A. (2010). Human geography. Places and Regions in Global Context (5th edition). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.
N.D. (n.d.). Encyclopædia Britannica, Semiotics. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from[2]
Purvis, T. Hunt, A. (1993), Discourse, Ideology, Discourse, Ideology, Discourse, Ideology. The British Journal of Sociology 44 (3) p473-499
Vannini, P. (2007) Social Semiotics and Fieldwork method and analytics. Qualitative inquiry. 13, p 113-140
Contributor
Page published by: unknown
Edited by Mathijs Lammers
Page edited by Renate van Haaren, --RenateVanHaaren 12:29, 17 October 2012 (CEST)
