Signifier

From Geography

The term 'signifier'is derived from Saussure's 'theory of the sign. He stated that the sign was made up by a matcehd pair of signifier and the signified, together they both form the core elements of semiotics.

Saussure said the signifier's are the first element. The signifier is specifically the form, the object the noise or the sense that prompts the individual to interpret their own meaning. The interpretation is the signified and is drawn from personal knowledge and experiences related to the signifier. This means that each individual will create a different 'signified'from the same 'signifier'due to our different experiences.

Quotes

'Saussure called the first element, the signifier, and the second element- the corresponding concept it triggered off in your head - the signified. Every timr you hear or read or see the signifier (e.g. the word or image of a walkman), it correlates with the signified (the concept of a portable cassette-player in your head).'(S.Hall, 1997)

Examples

For example, in geography, if referrign to the country of Holland, the signifier in this case, each person will automatically interpret the word based on their different knowledge and experiences of the county to creat the 'signified'

To say it in an abstract way: the signifier can be seen as the image and the signified is the concept behind the image

References

Hall, S. (1997). Representation: cultural representations and signifying practices. London: Sage publications.

Gibson, Graham, J.K. (2000). Poststructural Interventions. Oxford: Blackwell.

http://changingminds.org/explanations/critical_theory/concepts/signifier_signified.htm

Kress, G. (2001). From Saussure to Critical Sociolinguistics: The Turn Towards a Social View of Language

Contributers

Published By: Catherine Hughes and Laura Brunning 13/9/11

edited by Jordi de Leeuw 24 october 2012