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Essay / The role of semiotics, hermeneutics and rhetoric in the understanding of a text
The texts given by the authors and what the readers understand may not be the same at the beginning. This is due to background knowledge and perspective, but constructed definitions can be modified by paying close attention to the internal structure of texts. Semiotics, hermeneutics and rhetoric are the main elements that adjust the viewer's understanding. Understanding can be seen through signs, language and how we interpret them. Rhetoric could be said to focus on how the writer expresses their thoughts about the message. Meanwhile, hermeneutics concerns the relationship between recipients and texts, while semiotics concerns signs and symbols. Semiotics studies the way we use and interpret certain signs and symbols. It discusses relevant examples such as physical signs and abstract concepts, called denotation and connotation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay First of all, there is a lot to explain about the signifier and the signified. The signifier is a physical form of signs such as sounds, words and images that lead to the understanding of communication. It could be images or spoken words, or even a string of letters. The signified is an idea that a signifier refers to and it depends on who you are. For example, the signifier of the application "Instagram" is simply Instagram, otherwise, in the term signified, it could mean social media and some people may see it as entertainment or a way to stay in touch with their friends. friends and their family. . Another example is an apple. In terms of signifier, it is a round red fruit, but in the signified which is a mental concept, it could symbolize health or education. Furthermore, there are three different categories of signs in the signifier. It consists of an icon, a symbol and an index. The icon is similar to the signified in the sense that it is a representation of something, for example the image of a bicycle. We always immediately think of the bike when we see it. There is no need for words to express the definition of the object. The icon is opposed to the symbol, it has no resemblance to the signifier represented. The symbol explains why cultures can emerge with different unique traits and we learn what the symbol means over time. It is often an image or action that means more than its exact meaning, such as a dove which is a symbol of peace and a heart which represents love. Additionally, the color red represents romance, blood or even the devil..