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==Semiotics==

==Semiotics==

Peirce's work in logic established the foundation for yet another branch of study, semiotics, which would not flourish until 40 years after his death. The discipline of semiotics studies how information, in the form of language or any other type of communication (music, painting, etc.), is transmitted and received. In Peirce's formulation, there is a triangular relationship between sign, object, and interpretant. The sign represents a particular thing or idea which is being communicated (the object); the interpretant can be either the person who interprets the sign, or another sign which acts on, and re-interprets the first sign.

Peirce's work in logic established the foundation for yet another branch of study, semiotics, which would not flourish until 40 years after his death. The discipline of semiotics studies how information, in the form of language or any other type of communication (music, painting, etc.), is transmitted and received. In Peirce's formulation, signs are presented not only by culture but also by nature (reactions, natural semblances, etc.) and logic (abstract ideas are signs), and there is a triangular relationship between sign, object, and interpretant. A sign represents a particular thing or idea which is being communicated (the object). A sign's object is either immediate to the sign, that is, the object as represented by the sign, or is a dynamic object, the object as it really is, even if fictional such as Rip Van Winkle. An interpretant is a sign's effect that amounts to a further sign, for instance a quality of impression (an immediate interpretant, immediate to the sign) which the sign is suited to produce, or an actually resulting interpretation (a dynamic interpretant) such as a translation, state of agitation, or forming of an idea in an interpreter's mind; or a kind of ideal or norm (a final or normal interpretant), the conduct that <em>would</em> be produced if the sign were to be sufficiently interpreted.

The sign itself can take on three forms, an icon, an index, or a symbol. An icon directly resembles the object, an index shows the effect of the object, and a symbol represents the object by a pre-established rule which is established by cultural context. Written and spoken language therefore rely almost entirely on symbolic signs, in that a word's meaning must be understood by both the speaker and the listener in order for communication to take place.

The sign itself can take on three forms, an icon, an index, or a symbol. An icon directly resembles the object, regardless of factual connection to it (the object need not even exist) and regardless of interpretation (the resemblance is objective though relative to sight, intellect, etc.). An index represents through factual connection to the object; for example an ongoing effect such as smoke is an index of fire; the smoke need not resemble the fire, nor is its connection with fire a matter of interpretation. A symbol does depend on interpretation, and so it requires a dependable rule or habit of interpretation; that rule is essentially the symbol. A symbol represents the object by an interpretive norm or rule that may be logical, cultural, or even inborn but in any case without depending on resemblance or factual connection to the object. Written and spoken language therefore rely heavily on symbolic signs, in that a word's meaning must be understood by both the speaker and the listener in order for communication to take place. Designations such as proper names and words such as "this" Peirce usually considered to be indices. Peirce considered language as involving a mind's ability to supply mental indices and icons to accompany it. Peirce regarded diagrams as icons, and "All___is___" as a linguistic diagram, subject to logical transformations.

Peirce's ideas were highly influential on later linguistic scholars such as [[Noam Chomsky]], as well as on [[deconstruction|deconstructionists]] Jacques Derrida and Paul le Man. His ideas have also entered [[music theory]], in a separate branch known as musical semiotics. Leading exponents of this field include Wilson Coker, Robert Hatten, David Lidov, and V. Kofi Agawu.

Peirce's ideas were highly influential on later linguistic scholars such as [[Noam Chomsky]], as well as on [[deconstruction|deconstructionists]] Jacques Derrida and Paul le Man. His ideas have also entered [[music theory]], in a separate branch known as musical semiotics. Leading exponents of this field include Wilson Coker, Robert Hatten, David Lidov, and V. Kofi Agawu.