Sign systems have been formed throughout the history of mankind. This was necessary not only so that the accumulated buildings could be passed down from generation to generation - according to many anthropologists, the science of signs originally originated as a means of communication between people.
What is semiotics?
Semiotics is a branch of knowledge that studies signs and sign systems. It arose at the intersection of several disciplines - psychology, biology, cybernetics, literature, as well as sociology. Semiotics is divided into three broad areas of knowledge. Syntactics, semantics, pragmatics. Syntactics studies the laws according to which various types of sign systems are arranged, the ways of arrangement, with the help of which various elements of a language are correlated. The subject of study of semantics is the meaning - the relationship between the sign itself and its meaning. Pragmatics studies the relationship between the user of language and the sign system itself. A sign is a certain material object (as well as an event or phenomenon) that is objectively used to replace another object, its property or the relationship between objects.
Secondary simulation systems
Besidesmain classes of sign systems, there are also secondary modeling systems. Otherwise they are called "codes of culture". This category includes all types of cultural texts (excluding natural language), social activities, various models of behavior, traditions, myths, religious beliefs. Cultural codes are formed in the same way as natural language. They function on the principle of agreement between members of society. Agreements, or codes, are known to every member of the group.
Development of the psyche and mastery of the sign system
Mastering various types of sign systems is also a critical factor for the development of higher mental functions. Semiotic systems allow an individual to master social culture, historically established acceptable ways of behavior, and social experience. At the same time, self-awareness develops. Starting with elementary sensations, over time it is formed into a series of skills of self-perception, making a certain opinion about oneself, personal logic.
Encoding and decoding information
In psychology, various examples of sign systems are most often studied in the context of their correlation with cognitive processes. Much attention is paid to neurophysiological features. But often speech as a way of transmitting information, exchanging knowledge is left aside by scientists. Until now, the process of coding with the help of sign systems of visual images is a mystery for researchers. The mental image is encoded in the speaker's brain into words. in the brainlistener it is decoded. The transformations that occur with this remain unexplored.
Language sign systems: examples
Currently, linguistics is a dynamically developing branch of knowledge. The linguistic method is used in many sciences - for example, in ethnography and psychoanalysis. There are six types of sign systems in total. These are natural systems, iconic, conventional, recording systems, verbal systems. let's dwell on each type in more detail.
Icon systems
Architecture, ballet, music, non-verbal form of communication are examples of iconic sign systems. They usually have a fairly strong emotional saturation, are full of figurative components that are part of the sign. The study of various examples of sign systems shows that a scientist must not only use objective methods, but also independently model various examples of emotions, communicative situations.
Natural Signs
These signs are found in nature and in everyday life. Usually these are certain things or natural phenomena that point to other objects. Otherwise, they are also called signs-signs. An example of sign systems related to natural ones can be signs about the weather, traces of animals. A classic illustration of this semiotic system is the sign of smoke, which indicates a fire.
Functional signs
This type of signs also applies to signs-signs. However, unlike naturalof a functional sign with the object that it denotes is due to a certain function, the activity of people. For example, a home interior within the framework of semiotics is a text that indicates the level of well-being of the owners of the house. A set of books on a bookshelf provides the viewer with information about the tastes of the owner of the library, the level of his mental and moral development. Also, actions can often act as a functional sign. For example, a classroom teacher runs his finger over a list of students in a journal. This action is also a functional sign - it indicates that someone will be called to the board soon.
Conventional signs
This example of a sign system is otherwise called conditional. The name "conventional" comes from the Latin conventionio - "agreement". Conventional signs serve to designate objects and phenomena of the surrounding world "by condition". They themselves, as a rule, have very little in common with what they stand for. Examples of conventional sign systems: traffic light, indices, cartographic signs, symbols (coats of arms, emblems).
Verbal (speech) sign systems
All human languages belong to this category. Each language has a historical basis (the so-called "semiotic basis"). The main feature of human languages is that each of them is a polystructural and multilevel system. This system is capable of almost unlimited development. The sign system of speech isthe richest tool for storing, processing and further transferring information.
Sign systems
This semiotic category includes sign systems that arise on the basis of previous groups - verbal, dance, music. Sign systems of notation are secondary to these groups. They arose with the advent of writing. Without recording systems, human cognitive evolution would be impossible.
Semiotic experiences in history
The ancient Greek scientist Plato divided all sounds into categories of fast, huge, thin and rounded. M. V. Lomonosov was of the opinion that the frequent repetition of the letter “A” in written or oral speech contributes to the image of grandeur, depth and height. The letters "E" and "U" help to depict affection, small objects, tenderness. These views were expounded in his work A Concise Guide to Eloquence.
Researcher IN Gorelov conducted a curious experiment. The subjects were asked to characterize the fantastic animals named "mamlyna" and "zhavaruga". All of the participants in the experiment considered the “mamlyna” to be a kind, meek and round creature. "Zhavaruga" was categorized as wild, prickly and evil.
Volapyuk language
There are a huge number of languages on the planet, many dead languages - those that have gone out of use. Despite this, there are still those who enthusiastically invent new ones. Examples of artificial sign systems are the well-known language Esperanto,the volapük, universalglot, lingua catholica, solresol, and many others that preceded it. One of the most complex is Ithkuil, created on the basis of ancient symbols. Artificial languages were created by personalities employed in various fields. These were not always those who worked in the professions of the sign system.
One of the strangest artificial languages is Volapuk. The idea for his invention first came up with a German priest named Martin Schleyer. The clergyman claimed that the idea of creating an artificial language was proposed to him by the Lord himself in a dream. The purpose of creating Volapuk was to simplify communication - Schleyer tried to create a simple and universal language. He took European languages as a basis - Latin, English and German. The priest tried to create words from just one syllable.
At first, the public showed little interest in this artificial language. However, a community was soon formed and began spreading the word about the new language. As a result, at the peak of its popularity, it had more than a hundred thousand speakers.
The Volapuk language seemed rather strange to many Europeans. The roots of words from different European dialects contained in it made it recognizable, but quite funny. Until today, the word "volapyuk" means nonsense, gibberish. Despite this, volapük was popular until the time when the Nazis came to power in Germany.
Esperanto and other languages
However, when people talk about artificial languages, the first thing they think of is a language called Esperanto. It was created at the end of the 19th century and has flourished to this day - hundreds of thousands of people all over the world are its bearers.
Esperanto has not gained popularity by accident - it is a very simple language, which contains only 16 grammar rules. It is noteworthy that they do not have a single exception. Esperanto words contain roots from various European languages, as well as Slavic ones. It is especially clear to Americans.
Over time, in order for the phrase "artificial languages" not to have a negative connotation, they began to be called "planned". Directly the status of languages is received only by those that have a sufficient number of speakers. If only its creator and a couple of friends speak an artificial language, then it is called a "linguo project".
By the way, despite its widespread use, Esperanto was not the first planned language. The first was created by an abbess named Hildegard of Bingen. It was called Lingua Ignota ("unknown speech"). The abbess claimed that he was sent down to her from heaven. This language had its own script and vocabulary, in which thousands of concepts were deciphered. Artificial languages were also created in the countries of the East. For example, "bala-ibalan". It was invented by Sheikh Muhieddin, using Persian, Arabic and Turkish as the basis.
Binary system
Most artificial languages were created on the basis of existing ones, so a binary sign system using numbers does not apply to a means of communication. In it, as you know, information is recorded using two numbers - 0 and 1. Oncethere were computers with a more complex system - ternary. But binary is the most convenient for digital technology. In the binary sign system, 1 and 0 indicate the presence or absence of a signal.
Solresol: an unusual idea of a musician
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the musician François Sudr from France shared an unusual idea with the public: he invented an artificial language called solresol. His words, of which there were more than two and a half thousand, were recorded using notes. It's hard to believe, but the idea, which at first was just a musical intellectual game, has become popular. The Solresol language gained fame among its contemporaries, because notes are international symbols.
