Pierce's Triadic Model

Pierce’s Triadic Model explains how symbols and meanings are created through a three-part process: a symbol (like a word or sign), the object it refers to (the actual thing or concept), and the interpretant (the understanding or mental effect on the observer). When someone uses a symbol, they are pointing to an object, and the interpretant is the meaning that the symbol evokes in another person. This ongoing cycle helps us understand how language and symbols shape our perception and communication, emphasizing that meaning is not fixed but arises through continuous interpretive actions.