Semiotics

As part of a class introducing us to semiotics and the language of signs I have to gather some signs and order them into symbols, indices and icons.


From the lecture notes, a symbol is where the signifier abstractly represents the signified, an icon is where the signifier resembles the signified and and index is where the signifier is in some way a factual representation of the signified.


Below are the images I've gathered.

An icon as the image resembles a man carrying out work and a symbol because its culturally agreed that this is a road sign symbolising roadworks. The red triangle is also a symbol agreed as meaning "Warning" or "Caution".

A photograph of the Moon. Index.

The clock face here is also an index but you could also say this  is symbolic of time maybe.

Symbol because it represents Batman but isn't actually Batman. It's also an icon of a bat.

This cave painting is an icon of a bull.

This photograph of Albert Einstein is an index. 

Symbol for recycling.

Icon and symbol for Spider-man 

Symbol as this isn't actually Walt Disney

Icon of thumbs up gesture but also symbolic of approval.

Following is a continuum of signs going from Index through Icon to Symbols.

INDEX ------------------------------>   ICON   --------------------------------->  SYMBOL