In semiotics, what does the 'signifier' refer to?

In semiotics, what does the 'signifier' refer to?

• A. The mental concept
• B. The symbol, word or image that triggers the signified concept
• C. The external knowledge
• D. The emotional response

Answer: (B)

In semiotics, a sign has two parts: the form that carries meaning and the concept it points to. The signifier is the form itself—the symbol, word, sound, or image that we perceive. It acts as the vehicle for meaning, not the idea in your head. The signified is the mental concept or meaning that the signifier evokes. For example, a spoken word or a drawn image can be signifiers that trigger the idea of a cat. The link between signifier and signified is conventional and can vary across languages and cultures, which is why different sign systems use different signifiers for the same concept.

In semiotics, a sign has two parts: the form that carries meaning and the concept it points to. The signifier is the form itself—the symbol, word, sound, or image that we perceive. It acts as the vehicle for meaning, not the idea in your head. The signified is the mental concept or meaning that the signifier evokes. For example, a spoken word or a drawn image can be signifiers that trigger the idea of a cat. The link between signifier and signified is conventional and can vary across languages and cultures, which is why different sign systems use different signifiers for the same concept.