Analysis of Communication Using Semiotic Classifications Report

This report provides an analysis of communication based on Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic classifications. It explores the concepts of icon, index, and symbol, illustrating how these sign types function to convey meaning. The report examines the image of a gorilla and a boy, and the soldiers in the clouds, and the use of denotation and connotation in image interpretation, drawing on Roland Barthes' theory. The analysis covers how images can be used to communicate ideas and how meaning is constructed through the relationship between signifiers and signified. The report references the work of Rajendran and Kumar, Nack, Scherp, and Neuhaus, Ashley, and Kapitány and Kapitány to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of semiotic principles in communication.

Running head: COMMUNICATION
1
Communication
Name
Institution

Communication 2
Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic classifications
Icon
Passing of ideas from one person to another can be done by the use of an image. Objects
and signs have a physical similarity, which is put across by the iconic relationship. The sign,
being anything in one way or other, stands for something else in respect to capacity and make
meaning. The perpetual resemblance can also be signified by the icons enhancing fast
recognition of the objects such as the image of a smiley face which represents a human being
(Rajendran and Kumar, 2015). The black image outline of a gorilla and a human-like shape is a
distinct representation of a gorilla and a boy. The gorilla seems to be walking together with the
kid to an unknown destination. The artist appears to suggest that the gorilla famously known as
harambe is a friendly animal and had no ill intentions towards the boy.
Index
Cause and its effect comprise the index. A sign as cause and the force for an object,
therefore, forming the symbol object relationship (Nack, Scherp and Neuhas, 2014). The
indexical sign has a connection to the actual object. An example is a shadow that is directly
under your feet is a sign of the sun being directly over your head.
The burnt sienna color in the horizon below the image of the soldiers is a phenomenon
widely associated with the sunrise. The artist intends to show the rise of a new era where human
beings and animals can live nearby and in harmony.
Symbol

Communication 3
For meaning, a signifier is used to symbolize the signified. The signifier and the signified
have no resemblance. The signifier can be informed of words, and the signified are objects
(Kapitány and Kapitány, 2015). The signifier from the image is the pictures of soldiers used.
Harambe is dressed as one of the troops in the photograph. Soldiers are used to symbolizing
prestige in a country and can be used to refer to self-discipline. The artist seems to have the
intentions of portraying harambe as a form of influence for his country as he was 17 years old
which implicated wildlife heritage and people paid to get to the zoo to watch him before he was
shot dead by the zookeeper.
Construction of meaning from image A
Ronald Barthes’ theory uses denotation and connotation to bring out the relationship
between signifier and the signified.
Denotation
A denoted level of meaning is the association of a sign and the literal meaning of words
and other phenomena. Sings are associated with the first meaning of words. However, further
meanings can also be linked to the sign.
The image of a gorilla at the forefront of the soldiers means that the gorilla, being a
soldier in the photograph and position at the front is a leader. The image shows that harambe
earned a place of honor in his country after his death because his photograph is among those of
soldiers signifying fallen soldiers.
Connotation

Communication 4
Cultural and historical knowledge or experience is the basis of connotative interpretation,
and further meanings of words are derived (Ashley, 2015). Personal associations such as ideas
are given meaning by being attached to words.
The presence of soldiers in the cloud can be given a connotative meaning. Clouds have a
spiritual meaning that indicates bad luck. The dark clouds also show a stormy weather. The
soldiers whose faces appear in the dark clouds portray a signification of having undergone
hardship in the line of their duty for a good course. Harambe’s head is among the soldiers’ and
indicates dark lack on his part as his intentions towards the young boy were not apparently
known to be ill.

Communication 5
References
Rajendran, V., & Kumar, G. B. (2015). Text Processing for Developing Unrestricted Tamil Text
to Speech Synthesis System. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 8(29).
Nack, F., Scherp, A., & Neuhaus, C. (2014, June). Semiotic Tagging: Enriching the Semantics of
Tags for Improved Image Retrieval. In Semantic Computing (ICSC), 2014 IEEE
International Conference on (pp. 7-14). IEEE.
Ashley, L. (2015). Illuminating cultural terrains in dance: A symbiotic approach to analysis and
interpretation. Te Kaharoa, 8(1).
Kapitány, Á, & Kapitány, G. (2015). The semiotic dimensions of vertical social (self)
classification. Semiotica, 2015(205), 243-260.