SEMEIOTICS

Semeiotic is a term used by Charles Sanders Peirce to distinguish his theory of sign relations from other approaches to the same subject matter.

Triadic relations

Main article: Triadic relation

Sign relations

Main article: Sign relation

Types of signs

There are three principal ways that a sign can denote its objects. These are usually described as kinds, species, or types of signs, but it needs to be understood that the same thing can be a sign in different ways.

Beginning very roughly, the three main ways of being a sign can be described as follows:

• An icon is a sign that denotes its objects by virtue of a quality that it shares with its objects.

• An index is a sign that denotes its objects by virtue of an existential connection that it has with its objects.

• A symbol is a sign that denotes its objects solely by virtue of the fact that it is interpreted to do so.

See also

External links

• Bergman & Paavola (eds.), Commens Dictionary of Peirce's Terms, Webpage
  • Semeiotic
  • Icon
  • Index
  • Symbol