What is the Difference Between Signifier and Signified?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚In semiotics, the signifier and the signified are the two main components of a sign. The key differences between them are as follows:
- Signifier: The signifier is the material form or observable aspects of the sign itself. It is the physical or sensory element that we can see, hear, taste, touch, or smell. For example, in the case of a red flag, the signifier is the red cloth and the pole.
- Signified: The signified is the meaning or concept that the signifier represents or refers to. It is the mental concept or idea associated with the signifier. In the case of a red flag, the signified is the meaning conveyed, such as danger or caution.
The relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary, as various signifiers can be used to represent the same signified. Both components coincide to create the sign, and a sign can only be understood when the relationship between the signifier and the signified is understood. For instance, a word like "rose" can have different significations depending on the context, such as representing a specific kind of flower or symbolizing passion.
Comparative Table: Signifier vs Signified
The difference between the signifier and the signified can be understood as follows:
| Signifier | Signified |
|---|---|
| The object, word, image, or action that represents the signified. | The concept or meaning behind the object, word, image, or action. |
| Examples include a cross as a signifier for Christian faith and morals, or a photograph as a signifier for a specific person or event. | Examples include the Christian faith and morals signified by the cross, or the specific person or event signified by a photograph. |
| The relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary and context-dependent. | The signified is the idea or meaning being expressed by the signifier. |
| In semiotics, the signifier and the signified form the two main components of a sign. | The signified is what the sign represents or refers to, known as the "plane of content". |
| The signifier is the observable aspects of the sign itself, known as the "plane of expression". | The signifier and the signified are purely psychological, with the signifier being the form rather than the substance. |
In summary, the signifier is the physical representation of a concept, while the signified is the concept or meaning that the signifier represents. The relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary and depends on the context in which they are used.
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- Symbol vs Metaphor
- Icon vs Symbol
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- Paradigm vs Syntagm
- Sign Language vs Spoken Language
- Meaning vs Purpose
- Signal vs Noise
- Difference vs Different
- Sun Sign vs Moon Sign
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- Silent vs Silence
- Semantic vs Syntactic
- Literally vs Figuratively
- Affected vs Effected
- Type vs Kind
- Say vs Tell