The Triangle of Meaning

The Triangle of Meaning is a model that explains how words connect to our understanding of things. It involves three parts: the symbol (the word or sign we use), the referent (the actual thing or concept the word points to), and the thought or reference (our mental idea or understanding of that thing). The symbol doesn’t directly correspond to the referent; instead, meaning is shaped by the thought, which links the symbol to the referent. This model highlights that communication is a process involving interpretation, context, and shared understanding.