The Theory of Sign

The Theory of Sign, developed by Ferdinand de Saussure, explores how signs — such as words, images, or symbols — convey meaning. It views a sign as composed of two parts: the *signifier* (the physical form, like a word or image) and the *signified* (the concept or meaning it represents). Meaning arises from the relationship between signifiers and their signifieds within a system of signs. This theory emphasizes that signs don't have inherent meaning; rather, their significance is created through differences and relationships in a language system, shaping how we communicate and interpret meaning.