DEFINITION OF SEMIOTICS

Modern semiotics is a branch of science that studies signs and meaning in social and cultural
contexts. It includes analyzing how signs function in communication and how meaning is formed
through social interaction. Modern semiotic focuses on the relationship between the sign, the
object represented, and the interpretation by the individual or society.

DIFFERENCE between TRADITIONAL SEMIOTICS and MODERN SEMIOTICS

Theoretical Approach:
Traditional Semiotics: Focuses on analyzing signs as separate entities. For example, in
analyzing the word “tree”, traditional semiotics would look at the relationship between the word
(sign) and the physical object it represents (tree) without considering the social context.
Modern Semiotics: Looks at the sign in a broader context. For example, the word “tree” does
not only refer to a physical object, but can also have symbolic meanings in certain cultures (such
as a tree as a symbol of life or growth). In this context, the meaning of “tree” can vary depending
on culture and individual experience.
Focus on Context:
Traditional Semiotics: Ignores the context in which the sign is used. For example, an analysis
of the sign “red” would only look at the color itself without considering that “red” could mean
danger in a traffic context, but could also mean love in a relationship context.
Modern Semiotics: Emphasizes the importance of context. In the “red” example, modern
semiotics would consider how the meaning of the color changes depending on the situation (for
example, a red flag in a political context could mean something different compared to a red light
on the street).

FIGURES OF MODERN SEMIOTICS

1. Ferdinan De Saussurce (Inventor/Father of Modern Semiotics)

As the inventor of modern semiotics and the father of semiotics, according to Saussure, signs
originated from linguistics or language and visual signs, where signs are everything that has
meaning and has various relationships - between concrete and abstract, between form and
meaning, between sound imagery and concepts, as well as arbitrary and motivated relationships.
Interestingly, Saussure's semiotic theory is famous for its dyadic or dichotomous concept, where
a sign consists of two interrelated elements, namely the signifier and the signified.
2. Charles Sanders Pierce (As the Founding Father of Modern Semiotics)
According to Peirce, semiotics is based on logic, which is the study of how humans reason.
Peirce argues that reasoning is done through signs, which allow humans to think, relate to others,
and give meaning to what the universe displays. In his view, there are vast possibilities in the
diversity of signs, of which linguistic signs are an important category, but not the only category
that exists.
3. Roman Jakobson
Roman Jakobson is a linguist and semiotician who was born in Moscow on October 11, 1896. He
is recognized as one of the influential figures in 20th century linguistics and contributed greatly
to the development of semiotic theory. Jakobson focused on the relationship between signifier
and signified in communication. He emphasized that meaning lies in the signifier, not in the
signified. This means that the words and symbols we use have meanings that are determined by
their context and usage.
4. Roland Barthes
According to Barthes, semiology is the study of how humans interpret things around them. is a
sign that carries an implied message. If in Saussure's view emphasizes signification only at the
level of denotation and connotation. But in Barthes' thinking, the signification is refined from
Saussure's semiology with connotative and mythical signification systems.

5. Umberto Eco
According to Umberto, Signs that are produced intentionally to mark are signs that come from
senders, both human and animal. These signs are produced consciously based on certain
conventions and aim to communicate something.
6. Julia Kristeva
Kristeva introduced two key concepts: semiotic (the pre-linguistic stage related to physical and
emotional experience) and symbolic (the linguistic stage related to language structure and social
rules), and developed the concept of intertextuality which sees each text as an interconnected
“mosaic of quotations”. Through his theory, he challenges the concept of singular identity,
emphasizing that meaning is always dynamic, unstable, and in constant process, with each text a
transformation of previous texts.
-Differences in Theory between Ferdinad De Saussurce and Roman Jacobson (NOT
ENTER PPT, KEEP IT FOR THOSE WHO ASK)

Ferdinand De Saussure: Saussure focused on the structure of signs and the relationship
between signifier and signified. He emphasized that the meaning of signs is formed through
social conventions and relations within the sign system.

Example: The word “dog” (signifier) refers to a four-legged animal that barks (signified). The
meaning of “dog” has nothing to do with its sound or physical form, but is determined by the
social agreement that the word refers to the animal.
Roman Jakobson: Jakobson emphasized more on the function of language in communication.
He developed a model of communication involving six elements and highlighted the importance
of context in determining meaning.

PARTS OF MODERN SEMIOTICS

1. Analytic semiotics: This is semiotics that analyzes sign systems. Semiotics objectifies
signs and analyzes them into ideas, objects, and meanings. The idea can be associated as a
symbol, while the meaning is the burden contained in the symbol that refers to a particular
object.
Example: For example, in certain literary works, symbols such as colors, characters, or settings
can be analyzed to reveal the major themes or moral messages that the author wants to convey.
For example, the use of the color red in a story can be interpreted as a symbol of love or anger,
depending on the context of the narrative.

2. Descriptive semiotics: this is a semiotic that pays attention to the sign system that we can
experience now, although there are signs that have always remained as they are witnessed now.
For example, a cloudy sky indicates that rain will soon fall, and it has always been that way.
Similarly, if the waves turn white in the middle of the sea, it indicates that the sea is choppy.
However, with the advancement of science, technology and art, many signs have been created by
humans to fulfill their needs.

3. Faunal semiotics (Zoo Semiotics): This is a semiotics that pays special attention to the
sign systems produced by animals. Animals usually produce signs to communicate between each
other, but also often produce signs that can be interpreted by humans.
For example, a hen squawking indicates that she has laid an egg or that she is afraid of
something. Signs produced by animals like this are of interest to people working in the field of
faunal semiotics.

4. Cultural semiotics: a semiotics that specializes in analyzing the sign system that prevails
in a particular culture. It is known that society as a social being has a certain cultural system that
has been maintained and respected for generations. The culture found in society, which is also a
system, uses certain signs that distinguish it from other societies.
Example: For example, in Balinese culture, “ogoh-ogoh” or large statues paraded during Nyepi
celebrations signify resistance to negative energy and evil.

5. Narrative semiotics: semiotics that examines the sign system in narratives in the form of
myths and oral stories (Folklore). It is known that myths and oral stories have high cultural
value.
Example: In the Sasak culture, there is a story that people should not play outside at night
because it is believed that spirits are watching.

6. Natural semiotics: semiotics that specializes in examining the sign system produced by
nature. Cloudy river water indicates that it has rained upstream, and the leaves of trees turn
yellow and fall. Nature that is not friendly to humans, such as floods or landslides, actually gives
a sign to humans that humans have damaged nature.
Example: The appearance of worms on the surface of the soil indicates that the soil is wet due to
rain or high humidity.
7. Normative semiotics: This is a semiotics that specializes in examining human-made sign
systems in the form of norms, such as traffic signs. In train rooms, there is often a sign that
means no smoking.
Example: a red cross on a certain door in a building indicates that the area is an emergency exit
that is only used in an emergency.

8. Social semiotics: This is a semiotic that specifically examines the sign system produced
by humans in the form of symbols, both symbols in the form of words and symbols in the form
of words in units called sentences. In other words, social semiotics examines the sign system
found in language.
Example: someone puts his index finger in front of his mouth, meaning he is asking others to be
quiet or not to make a sound.
9. Structural semiotics, which specializes in examining the sign system manifested through
the structure of language.
Example: in Japanese, using the word “san” after someone's name shows politeness, while not
using it can be considered too familiar or informal, which shows a closer relationship.
CONCLUSION
In a modern semiotic perspective, signs are no longer understood as static and having fixed
meanings, but rather as complex and multidimensional social constructions. Modern semioticians
such as Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco, and Julia Kristeva emphasize that every sign has multiple
and unlimited layers of meaning. They developed the concept that the meaning of a sign lies not
only in the relationship between signifier and signified, but also in the social and cultural context
that surrounds it.