Semiotics

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Semiotics can be taken as the study of signs and how we relate them to meaning.

Signs in this context are are anything that can be interpreted to have a meaning.

Signs include but not limited to sounds, motions, gesture, images.

In a practical sense we may still focus on words, but the term is used in part to remind you these are far from the only meaning carriers in most situations.

Sign process is sometimes (slightly more helpful) synonym for semiotics, and sometimes is meant as a "any process/activity that involves signs, and probably meaning".

Linguistics is mostly about intentional meaning.

You could say that semiology is more about the signs and symbols and more anthropological, while linguistics more about the structure, meaning and meaningful communication.

As such, linguistics courses may skim over semiology, or use the term only for all the inbetweens - analogy, allegory, metonymy, metaphor, symbolism, and also conduct, behaviour, and a lot of other sociology.

It also overlaps with philosophy, relating to structuralism, and more. (see e.g. Saussure)

Entirely unintentional signs include e.g. diagnosis, as a symptom can be a a sign of a medical condition.

See also:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiosis