The Basics of Semiotics (4): Icon, Index, Symbol

Want to learn semiotic theory as an absolute beginner? Want to hear semiotics explained simply and logically? Semiotics can feel like a complex and hard subject, but it shouldn't be. In this video series we'll explore and explain what semiotics is all about in an understandable and simple way. The video series is intended for absolute beginners and is a crash course to semiotic theory and Peircean semiotics.

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In this video we learn about the iconic signs, indexical signs and symbolic signs in semiotics. The Second Correlate is the relation between the sign and the object. It asks: What is the relation between the sign and the object? How the sign represents its object? A sign can represent its object by:

(1) Similarity = Icon
(2) Real connection = Index
(3) Habit = Symbol

The video series is intended for beginners and is a crash course to semiotic theory and Peircean semiotics.

A big thanks to León Enriquez who made the Spanish subtitles. You can look up his work from these links:
PDF: A Peircean Model for Music and Sound-Based Art: A Pragmatist Approach to Experiences in the Artistic Use of Sound
Leóns Homepage:

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:52 Icon
01:34 Index
02:11 Symbol
03:36 Example
04:50 Symbols contain Indeces and Icons

[PhiloSign]

I have launched a SubStack publication. Feel free to check it out and subscribe!

[luxiiien]

thank you! your examples make it way easier for me to understand the concepts!

[elainebeeler]

thank you, this is the first video that makes sense!

[gos]

Thank u so much. Watching from USA

Unahan sa Antipas

[StudyWithMeKoineGreek]

I thought Charles Peirce stated that, "a symbol ... fulfils its function regardless of any similarity or analogy with its object and equally regardless of any factual connection therein." - This would seem to indicate a separation of a symbol from an index or icon? right? but you seem to indicate that icons and indexes are contained in symbols? -- maybe you can clear some of it up for me. Thank-you.

[oof.]

thank you so much for explaining it so well!

[trusfrated]

1.) a wave of the hand (for goodbye)
2.) a picture of a cigarette with a red circle around it and a diagonal slash through it
3.) a road map
4.) a stop sign
5.) the footprints of an animal in the mud

Plese help me answer this

[LogicPhilosophy]

Love your example using the map and the crossing symbol (displaying the iconic, indexical, and symbolic elements!).
I don't know if every word is a symbol.
1. Some words might have iconic elements, e.g. "buzz" or other forms of onomatopoeia
2. What do you think about proper names? They seem like they would be either indexical or symbolic. On the one hand, they seem to be indexical since they relate to their objects by blindly pointing at the things they name (they don't describe the thing and we tend to be baptized with them, e.g. where a name is put in a causal connection with a thing). On the other hand, they seem to be symbolic. In the past I've taken them to be a kind of indexical legisign. Overall, greatly enjoyed your video!

[paulhanson]

Thank you so much. Can we see you work through intersections of semiotics and autopoiesis??

[paulhanson]

Incredible series. I use it in classes. Is the pdf of Peirciean Model for Music and Sound available? The link no longer works

[mohammedmunnersuhail]

plato believes that we are borne in blank slide, how

[lenaokyereasiedu]

I am wondering where sign language falls? Is it under symbols too?