Peircean Semiotics

Unlike Saussure, Peirce didnt focus on

language. He was interested in all kinds of
signs, and his system applies equally to
bacteria as to humans.
Peirce believed that all thinking and
interpretation was the work of signs. (eg:
I is the sign through which people
represent themselves to the world.)

Peirces Sign
Peirce defined the sign as something
which stands to somebody for
something in some respect or
capacity.
The Peircean sign has 3 parts:
Sign/Representamen(S/R)
Object (O)
Interpretant (I)

Unlimited Semiosis
The meaning of a sign is always
another sign.
The Interpretant of any Sign can become
the Sign for another Interpretant and so
on and so on. (eg: 2 people and another
comes along to witness the fight.)
This is Unlimited Semiosis.
The Peircean sign is open, dynamic, and
no meaning is ever final.

THE FOUNDATIONAL CATEGORIES OF SEMIOTICS

three categories are necessary and sufficient to account for all of human experience.

1. PRIMERIDAD:is a conception of being that is

independent
of
anything
else.
Cualidad,
sentimiento, espontaneidad, inmediatez
2. SEGUNDIDAD:is the mode of being that is in
relation to something else. Accin-reaccin,
esfuerzo-resistencia, existencia, acto, hic et nunc
3. TERCERIDAD: is the mediator through which a
first and a second are brought into relation. Ley,
continuidad, generalidad, aprendizaje, crecimiento,
representacin, mediacin, pensamiento

Primeridad
Icon/iconic: a mode in which the signifier is
perceived as resembling or imitating the
signified (recognizably looking, sounding,
feeling, tasting or smelling like it) being
similar in possessing some of its qualities:
e.g. a portrait, a cartoon, a scale-model,
onomatopoeia, metaphors, realistic
sounds in programme music, sound
effects in radio drama, a dubbed film
soundtrack, imitative gestures.

Segundidad
Index/indexical: a mode in which the signifier is not
arbitrary but is directly connected in some way
(physically or causally) to the signified (regardless of
intention) this link can be observed or inferred: e.g.
natural signs (smoke, thunder, footprints, echoes,
non-synthetic odours and flavours), medical symptoms
(pain, a rash, pulse-rate), measuring instruments
(weathercock, thermometer, clock, spirit-level),
signals (a knock on a door, a phone ringing), pointers
(a pointing index finger, a directional signpost),
recordings (a photograph, a film, video or television
shot, an audio-recorded voice), personal trademarks
(handwriting, catchphrases).

Terceridad
Symbol/symbolic: a mode in which the
signifier does not resemble the
signified but which is fundamentally
arbitrary or purely conventional so
that this relationship must be agreed
upon and learned: e.g. language in
general (plus specific languages,
alphabetical letters, punctuation
marks, words, phrases and
sentences), numbers, morse code,

IMPLICACIONES DE LA SEMITICA
DE CHARLES S. PEIRCE EN LA
TEORA DE LASARTES PLSTICAS
Miguel Oswaldo Senz Cardoza