1. What is Language?

2. What is Saussure's definition semiology? 1. Semiology is "A science that studies the life of signs within society..." 2. A semiological approach is synchronic and not diachronic 3. A semiological approach studies langue and not parole.

3. What is a semiological system? A semiological system is a closed system of signs. Because the system is closed, part of the sign’s value comes from being not the values of the other signs in the system (Saussure’s negative meaning).

4. What is a sign? A sign is a unity of a signifier and a signified. Both the signifier and signified are concepts and not things. The connection between the signifier and signified is arbitrary (nonessential). The types of signified are not fixed or given.

5. A Lexical Sign

6. Human language is the semiological system par excellence. How is human language a closed system of signs? The sentences of human language are signs. They are, in fact complex signs, i.e., consist of signs within signs within signs.

7. What are the Sign Systems of Human Language? Three Levels Lexical Words and Morphemes Tactic/Syntax Representational –Phonological, Orthographic and Gestural

8. Lexical Signs To be a sign the word must have a signified and a signifier. Each word has a signified (meaning (value)) Each word has a signifier –Either a string of letters (graphic mode) or a string of phonemes (acoustic mode).

9. Syntactic Signs To be a sign the sentence must have a signified and a signifier. The signified is the (meaning (value) of the sentence. The signifier is spelled by parts of speech. Parts of speech are represented by words. Each word in the lexicon must be assigned a part of speech.

10. A Syntactic Sign

11. Representational Signs To be a representational sign the letter or the phoneme must have a signified and a signifier. The signified of a letter or phoneme is its value - it is not any of the other members of the closed set of letters or phonemes. The signifier is the contrastive token. a.sound image (phonemes) b.graphic image (letters) c.gestural image

12. Representational Signs Orthographic A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

13. Just For Fun AEIOUAEIOU J B F P V W CGKQXCGKQX HLRYHLRY D S T Z M N

14. What is adult human language? Definition 1a: a semiotic system of signs used by humans to communicate. Definition 1b: a complex sign system consisting of syntax, lexical and phonological (or graphic) signs. Definition 2: A Process of communication.