semiotics

(sē′mē ätiks, sem′ē-)

noun

Philos. a general theory of signs and symbols; esp., the analysis of the nature and relationships of signs in language, usually including three branches, syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics

Origin: Gr sēmeiōtikos < sēmeion, sign, akin to sēma: see semantic

Related Forms:

See semiotics in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also se·mei·ot·ics

noun (used with a sing. verb)
The theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication, and comprising semantics, syntactics, and pragmatics.

Related Forms:

  • seˌmi·o·tiˈcian (-ə-tĭshˈən) noun

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