Asked to write a blog about semiotics, I’ll start with my
very understanding of the topic. We all have a sense of symbols in the world
from the moment we’re born. It’s a natural thing to assume as we grow, we
communicate to each other through symbols and signs almost unconsciously. An example
we can all relate to are the colours red, amber and green.
https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/TrafficSafety/
On a traffic light
we know these colours stand for stop, get ready and go. It is a standard
cultural understanding drilled into us as kids to stop and wait at red at a
crossing to avoid danger. The same goes for sounds. We hear a police siren
before we see it coming, and we know for sure it is a police vehicle of some
sort.
It is important to know the context in which the sign is
shown, for it could determine the meaning altogether. A thumbs up generally
means as we know it that everything’s okay. However stick the thumbs up in a hitchhiker’s
case and we know they are waiting to be offered a ride. We are all semioticians
because we make these decisions without thinking about them.
http://www.signsalad.com/semiotics-explained/
