SEMIOTICS AND DECODING MEANING

 

SEMIOTICS AND DECODING MEANING

Semiotics : 

Semiotics is the study of the use of symbolic communication. Semiotics can include signs, logos, gestures and other linguistic and nonlinguistic communication methods.
Decoding :
Decoding, in semiotics, is the process of interpreting a message sent by an addresser to an addressee. The complementary process – creating a message for transmission to an addressee – is called encoding.
Ferdinand de Saussure : 
 Was a linguist who was interested in the system of signs we use to communicate our ideas with. Saussure argued signs consisted of two parts. He defined the physical form of the sign, whether it was written or spoken language, as the signifier. These shapes and sounds then signified certain mental concepts to the audience. 

The Swiss linguist used chess to demonstrate his model of communication, explaining to his students how the popular game was not defined by the physical aspects of the chess pieces but the mental concepts we attributed to them through the rules, or codes.
For instance, it does not matter if a knight is made from wood or glass because the rules of the game state players can move the piece in an “L” shape horizontally or vertically across the board. The fact it usually resembles a horse’s head has no real bearing on its ability to jump over other pieces in the game to reach its destination. All the other pieces are also governed by the codes and conventions of the game. 

Saussure’s approach to analysing a text remains an important model for studying any product. By identifying the dominant signifiers and appreciating how they combine to create meaning, we can develop a better understanding of the message being conveyed by the producers. .