Name: Mayvann Claude Calope Digal

Manuscript for Oral Presentation

Estimated time for reporting: March 24,2024

Topic: Semiotics and Sign Language

Subtopics:
 Foundations of Semiotics
 Components of Sign
 Signs and Gestures that have different meanings in different cultures

I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

In this lesson, students are expected to:

 Define semiotics and its significance in the study of communication.
 Analyze the concept of signs and their role in conveying meaning.
 Explain the importance of learning the Signs of different cultures.

II. SUBJECT MATTER

Topic: Semiotics and Sign Language

References:
 Language, Culture, and Society
By: Janet A. Mananay, LPT, EdD
Gino G. Sumalinog, LPT, EdD
 Jagarlapoodi, D. S. (2023, May 31). Semiotics and Sign Theory: Decoding the
language of signs. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/semiotics-sign-theory-
decoding-language-signs-jagarlapoodi
Instructional Materials: Powerpoint presentation
Skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading
Values Integration: Obedience, cooperation, and collaboration

III. TOPIC KEY POINTS

 Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their interpretation. It examines
how signs function as vehicles for conveying meaning and understanding in
communication, culture, and society. Semiotics encompasses a wide range of
disciplines, including linguistics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and
philosophy.

 Semiotics was founded by a Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure who refers to

this as "the life of signs within society".

 Practice of Semiotics and History

A semiotician is a person who studies or practices semiotics and deals with
symbols. These may be in the form of images, patterns, and motion and convey
meaning.

 John Locke (1632-1704), an English philosopher, regarded semiotics as the key

to the evolution of human consciousness. He further espoused that language
 began with signs, that are signs and dyadic, meaning a signature is tied to a
specific meaning.

 Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) stressed that for one to understand signs,
there must be intelligence capable enough to learn from experience. His concept
of semiotics was triadic: sign, meaning, and interpreter.

 Sign - A visual language that uses hand movements, gestures, facial

expressions, and body language to convey meaning. It is used primarily by deaf
and hard-of-hearing individuals as a mode of communication. Sign language has
its own grammar and syntax, distinct from spoken languages. Signs can be
divided into three main components.

- Signifier: The physical form of the sign, such as a word or an image.

- Signified: The concept or meaning associated with the signifier.

- Sign: The combination of the signifier and the signified, represents the
complete unit of meaning. signs can refer to something that can be
interpreted as having a meaning, which is something other than itself.
 Fingerspelling - Spelling words in signs may be done using a fingerspelling
strategy. There is a manual for the English alphabet, which makes up important
parts of sign language.

 Some examples of signs or gestures that may have different meanings in

different cultures:

1. Thumbs Up: In many Western cultures, the thumbs up gesture is a positive

sign meaning "good job" or "okay." However, in some countries like Iran and
Greece, it can be interpreted as an offensive gesture similar to showing the
middle finger.
2. Pointing: In Western cultures, pointing with the index finger is commonly
used to indicate direction or draw attention to something. However, in some
Asian cultures, such as Japan, pointing directly at someone or something is
considered impolite, and people may use an open hand or their chin to
gesture instead.
3. Nodding and Shaking Head: In most cultures, nodding the head up and
down signifies agreement or affirmation, while shaking the head side to side
indicates disagreement or negation. However, in some parts of Bulgaria and
Greece, the meanings of these gestures are reversed, with nodding indicating
disagreement and shaking the head indicating agreement.
 IV. EVALUATION

1. What is semiotics?
A. The study of plants and animals
B. The study of signs and symbols and their meanings
C. The study of weather patterns
D. The study of ancient civilizations
2. Which of the following is a component of a sign in semiotics?
A. Symbol
B. Meaning
C. Context
D. All of the above
3. Sign language is primarily used by?
A. Hearing individuals
B. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals
C. Blind individuals
D. Elderly individuals
4. What does the signifier represent in semiotics?
A. The concept or meaning associated with the sign
B. The physical form of the sign
C. The combination of the signifier and signified
D. None of the above
5. It is the concept or meaning associated with the signifier.
A. Signifier
B. Signified
C. Sign
D. None of the above

ANSWER KEY:
1. B
2. D
3. B
4. B
5. B