The word sign means

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else.^[1] A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease. A conventional sign signifies by agreement, as a full stop signifies the end of a sentence; similarly the words and expressions of a language, as well as bodily gestures, can be regarded as signs, expressing particular meanings. The physical objects most commonly referred to as signs (notices, road signs, etc., collectively known as signage) generally inform or instruct using written text, symbols, pictures or a combination of these.

The philosophical study of signs and symbols is called semiotics; this includes the study of semiosis, which is the way in which signs (in the semiotic sense) operate.

Nature[edit]

Semiotics, epistemology, logic, and philosophy of language are concerned about the nature of signs, what they are and how they signify.^[2] The nature of signs and symbols and significations, their definition, elements, and types, is mainly established by Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas. According to these classic sources, significance is a relationship between two sorts of things: signs and the kinds of things they signify (intend, express or mean), where one term necessarily causes something else to come to the mind. Distinguishing natural signs and conventional signs, the traditional theory of signs (Augustine) sets the following threefold partition of things:
all sorts of indications, evidences, symptoms, and physical signals, there are signs which are always signs (the entities of the mind as ideas and images, thoughts and feelings, constructs and intentions); and there are signs that have to get their signification (as linguistic entities and cultural symbols). So, while natural signs serve as the source of signification, the human mind is the agency through which signs signify naturally occurring things, such as objects, states, qualities, quantities, events, processes, or relationships. Human language and discourse, communication, philosophy, science, logic, mathematics, poetry, theology, and religion are only some of fields of human study and activity where grasping the nature of signs and symbols and patterns of signification may have a decisive value. Communication takes place without words but via the mind as a result of signs and symbols; They communicate/pass across/ messages to the human mind through their pictorial representation.

Types[edit]

The word sign has a variety of meanings in English, including:

• Sun signs in astrology
• Sign or signing, in communication: communicating via hand gestures, such as in sign language.
• Gang signal
• Sign, in Tracking (hunting): also known as Spoor (animal); trace evidence left on the ground after passage.
• A signboard.
• A sign, in common use, is an indication that a previously observed event is about to occur again
• Sign, in divination and religion: an omen, an event or occurrence believed to foretell the future
• Sign, in ontology and spirituality: a coincidence or surprising event thought to reveal divine will; see synchronicity
• Sign (linguistics): a combination of a concept and a sound-image described by Ferdinand de Saussure
• In mathematics, the sign of a number tells whether it is positive or negative. Also, the sign of a permutation tells whether it is the product of an even or odd number of transpositions.
• Signedness, in computing, is the property that a representation of a number has one bit, the sign bit, which denotes whether the number is non-negative or negative. A number is called signed if it contains a sign bit, otherwise unsigned. See also signed number representation
• Sign, in biology: an indication of some living thing’s presence
• Medical sign, in medicine: objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder, as opposed to a symptom, which is subjective
• Sign (semiotics): the basic unit of meaning
• Information sign: a notice that instructs, advises, informs or warns people
• Traffic sign: a sign that instructs drivers; see also stop sign, speed limit sign, cross walk sign
• Sign, in a writing system: a basic unit. Similar terms which are more specific are character, letter or grapheme
• Commercial signage, including flashing signs, such as on a retail store, factory, or theatre
• Signature, in history: a handwritten depiction observed on a document to show authorship and will
• For marketing or advocacy purposes, a signage refers to the collective use of signs to convey a message.

Christianity[edit]

St. Augustine was the first man who synthesized the classical and Hellenistic theories of signs. For him a sign is a thing which is used to signify other things and to make them come to mind (De Doctrina Christiana (hereafter DDC) 1.2.2; 2.1.1). The most common signs are spoken and written words (DDC 1.2.2; 2.3.4-2.4.5). Although God cannot be fully expressible, Augustine gave emphasis to the possibility of God’s communication with humans by signs in Scripture (DDC 1.6.6). Augustine endorsed and developed the classical and Hellenistic theories of signs. Among the mainstream in the theories of signs, i.e., that of Aristotle and that of Stoics, the former theory filtered into the works of Cicero (106-43 BC, De inventione rhetorica 1.30.47-48) and Quintilian (circa 35–100, Institutio Oratoria 5.9.9-10), which regarded the sign as an instrument of inference. In his commentary on Aristotle’s De Interpretatione, Ammonius said, «according to the division of the philosopher Theophrastus, the relation of speech is twofold, first in regard to the audience, to which speech signifies something, and secondly in regard to the things about which the speaker intends to persuade the audience.» If we match DDC with this division, the first part belongs to DDC Book IV and the second part to DDC Books I-III. Augustine, although influenced by these theories, advanced his own theological theory of signs, with whose help one can infer the mind of God from the events and words of Scripture.

Books II and III of DDC enumerate all kinds of signs and explain how to interpret them. Signs are divided into natural (naturalia) and conventional (data); the latter is divided into animal (bestiae) and human (homines); the latter is divided into non-words (cetera) and words (verba); the latter is divided into spoken words (voces) and written words (litterae); the latter is divided into unknown signs (signa ignota) and ambiguous signs (signa ambigua); both the former and the latter are divided respectively into particular signs (signa propria) and figurative signs (signa translata), among which the unknown figurative signs belong to the pagans.
In addition to exegetical knowledge (Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria 1.4.1-3 and 1.8.1-21) which follows the order of reading (lectio), textual criticism (emendatio), explanation (enarratio), and judgment (iudicium), one needs to know the original language (Hebrew and Greek) and broad background information on Scripture (DDC 2.9.14-2.40.60).

Augustine’s understanding of signs includes several hermeneutical presuppositions as important factors. First, the interpreter should proceed with humility, because only a humble person can grasp the truth of Scripture (DDC 2.41.62). Second, the interpreter must have a spirit of active inquiry and should not hesitate to learn and use pagan education for the purpose of leading to Christian learning, because all truth is God’s truth (DDC 2.40.60-2.42.63). Third, the heart of interpreter should be founded, rooted, and built up in love which is the final goal of the entire Scriptures (DDC 2.42.63).

The sign does not function as its own goal, but its purpose lies in its role as a signification (res significans, DDC 3.9.13). God gave signs as a means to reveal himself; Christians need to exercise hermeneutical principles in order to understand that divine revelation. Even if the Scriptural text is obscure, it has meaningful benefits. For the obscure text prevents us from falling into pride, triggers our intelligence (DDC 2.6.7), tempers our faith in the history of revelation (DDC 3.8.12), and refines our mind to be suitable to the holy mysteries (DDC 4.8.22). When interpreting signs, the literal meaning should first be sought, and then the figurative meaning (DDC 3.10.14-3.23.33). Augustine suggests the hermeneutical principle that the obscure Scriptural verse is interpreted with the help of plain and simple verses, which formed the doctrine of «scriptura scripturae interpres» (Scripture is the Interpreter of Scripture) in the Reformation Era. Moreover, he introduces the seven rules of Tyconius the Donatist to interpret the obscure meaning of the Bible, which demonstrates his understanding that all truth belongs to God (DDC 3.3.42-3.37.56). In order to apply Augustine’s hermeneutics of the sign appropriately in modern times, every division of theology must be involved and interdisciplinary approaches must be taken.^[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• The dictionary definition of sign at Wiktionary

types:

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recording

a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded

number, phone number, telephone number

the number is used in calling a particular telephone

start, starting signal

a signal to begin (as in a race)

storm signal

a signal announcing the approach of a storm (particularly a storm of marked violence)

beam, radio beam

a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

ticktack

system of signalling by hand signs used by bookmakers at racetracks

time signal

a signal (especially electronic or by radio) indicating the precisely correct time

dog-ear

a corner of a page turned down to mark your place

animal communication

communication between animals (of the same species)

alarm, alarum, alert, warning signal

an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger

distress call, distress signal

an internationally recognized signal sent out by a ship or plane indicating that help is needed

all clear

a signal (usually a siren) that danger is over

bugle call

a signal broadcast by the sound of a bugle

curfew

a signal (usually a bell) announcing the start of curfew restrictions

retreat

(military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position

drumbeat

(military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown

radiotelegraphic signal, telegraphic signal

a signal transmitted by telegraphy

whistle, whistling

the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle

high sign

a silent signal of warning or recognition

symbol

an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance

visual signal

a signal that involves visual communication

indicator

a signal for attracting attention

electronic signal

a signal generated by electronic means

radio beacon

a characteristic signal emitted by a transmitter used for navigation

input, input signal

signal going into an electronic system

output, output signal

signal that comes out of an electronic system

bologram, bolograph

record or recording made by a bolometer

chromatogram

the recording (column or paper strip) on which the constituents of a mixture are adsorbed in chromatography

oscillogram

the recording produced by an oscillograph

spirogram

a recording of breathing made with a spirograph

torpedo

a small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead

stock symbol

the letters used to identify listed companies on the securities exchanges where they are traded

accolade, award, honor, honour, laurels

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

storm cone

a canvas cone hoisted to warn of high winds

brand, mark, stain, stigma

a symbol of disgrace or infamy

item, token

an individual instance of a type of symbol

type

all of the tokens of the same symbol

birdcall, birdsong, call, song

the characteristic sound produced by a bird

air alert

the warning signal that begins a period of preparation for an enemy air attack

burglar alarm

a loud warning signal produced by a burglar alarm

SOS

an internationally recognized distress signal in radio code

Mayday

an internationally recognized distress signal via radiotelephone (from the French m’aider)

recall

a bugle call that signals troops to return

lights-out, taps

(military) signal to turn the lights out

reveille, wake-up signal

(military) signal to wake up

retreat

(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset

tattoo

a drumbeat or bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters

dit, dot

the shorter of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code

dah, dash

the longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code

nose

a symbol of inquisitiveness

number, numeral

a symbol used to represent a number

symbolism

a system of symbols and symbolic representations

lingam

the Hindu phallic symbol of Siva

pound, pound sign

a symbol for a unit of currency (especially for the pound sterling in Great Britain)

printed symbol, written symbol

a written or printed symbol

dollar, dollar mark, dollar sign

a symbol of commercialism or greed

monogram

a graphic symbol consisting of 2 or more letters combined (usually your initials); printed on stationery or embroidered on clothing

impression, stamp

a symbol that is the result of printing or engraving

watch fire

a fire lighted at night as a signal

light

a visual warning signal

red light, warning light

a cautionary sign of danger

flare, flash

a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate

flag, signal flag

a rectangular piece of fabric used as a signalling device

mantle

the cloak as a symbol of authority

Crown

the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

air sock, air-sleeve, drogue, sock, wind cone, wind sleeve, wind sock, windsock

a truncated cloth cone mounted on a mast; used (e.g., at airports) to show the direction of the wind

post, stake

a pole or stake set up to mark something (as the start or end of a race track)

point of reference, reference, reference point

an indicator that orients you generally

blinker, trafficator, turn indicator, turn signal

a blinking light on a motor vehicle that indicates the direction in which the vehicle is about to turn

armband

worn around arm as identification or to indicate mourning

rocket, skyrocket

propels bright light high in the sky, or used to propel a lifesaving line or harpoon

radar echo

an electronic signal that has been reflected back to the radar antenna; contains information about the location and distance of the reflecting object

racon, radar beacon

a device that, on receiving radar signals, transmits coded signals in response to help navigators determine their position

beacon, beacon fire

a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

printout

the output of a computer in printed form

read-out, readout

the output of a computer in readable form

fire alarm

a shout or bell to warn that fire has broken out

foghorn, fogsignal

a loud low warning signal that can be heard by fogbound ships

horn

a noise made by the driver of an automobile to give warning;

red flag

a flag that serves as a warning signal

siren

a warning signal that is a loud wailing sound

alarm bell, tocsin

the sound of an alarm (usually a bell)

brake light, stoplight

a red light on the rear of a motor vehicle that signals when the brakes are applied to slow or stop

barber’s pole

striped pole outside a barbershop

staff

a rod carried as a symbol

icon

(computer science) a graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a program or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interface

insignia, mark, marker, marking

a distinguishing symbol

identifier

a symbol that establishes the identity of the one bearing it

variable

a symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity

glyph

a small, often stylized graphic symbol

Britannica Dictionary definition of SIGN

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Britannica Dictionary definition of SIGN