Signs And Wonders

In our human life signs and symbols are important. They are part of how we express and perceive reality. Signs have been defined as anything that stands for something to somebody in some respect. Perhaps not the best definition but you can get the general idea. Signs are one of the most important ways that people convey meaning. Marketers transfer cultural meanings to products through signs in advertising. The great religions of mankind use signs to communicate their relationship with God. They can be seen in the chain of cause and effect. They are part of the system we use to communicate meaning to each other. Signs can be expressed in language, gestures and actions. In certain respects everything in nature can be interpreted as a sign. Storm clouds, cosmos, thunder, rainbows, creator, man's intelligence and so on have their signifiers and signifieds. They have both informative, referential and denotative dimensions at the surface level and connotative, symbolic dimensions at a deeper level.

Semiotics is the study of the role of symbols and signs in communication. It is an attempt to understand the way the communications process creates meanings for people through such things as branding. Signs point the way. Economic indicators, road signs and logos are there for us to interpret and use as guides. They may occasionally be difficult to interpret and what they presage is sometimes difficult to negotiate. Some situations may require expert assistance and guidance in others no one could refuse an interpretation. They must be interpreted in some way by somebody.