Theory of Signs

The Theory of Signs explores how we communicate meaning through signs, which include words, symbols, gestures, or images. It examines how signs represent or stand for something else—like a red stop sign signaling drivers to halt. This theory breaks down signs into three parts: the *sign* itself, the *meaning* it conveys, and the *referent*, which is the actual thing the sign points to. It helps us understand how meaning is created, interpreted, and shared in everyday communication, from language and art to advertising and digital media.