Difference between revisions of "Signified"

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According to [[Saussure]], the [[signified]] is the conceptual element of the [[sign]].
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It is not the real [[object]] denoted by a [[sign]] (the [[referent]]), but a psychological entity corresponding to such an [object]].<ref>(Saussure, 1916: 66-7)</ref>
  
According to Saussure, the signified is the conceptual element of the [[sign]].
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For [[Saussure]], the [[signified]] has the same status as the [[signifier]]; both form equal sides of the [[sign]].  
It is not the real object denoted by a sign (the ppreferent[[), but a psychological entity corresponding to such an object.<ref>(Saussure, 1916: 66-7)</ref>
 
  
For Saussure, the signified has the same status as the [[signifier]]; both form equal sides of the sign.  
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[[Lacan]], on the other hand, asserts the supremacy of the [[signifier]], and argues that the [[signified]] is a mere effect of the play of [[signifier]]s, an effect of the process of [[signification]] produced by [[metaphor]].  
  
Lacan, on the other hand, asserts the supremacy of the signifier, and argues that the signified is a mere effect of the play of signifiers, an effect of the process of signification produced by metaphor.
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In other words, the [[signified]] is not given, but produced.
 
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[[Lacan]]'s view is thus opposed to an expressionist view of [[language]], according to which concepts exist in some pre-verbal state before being expressed in the material medium of [[language]].  
In other words, the signified is not given, but produced.
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In contrast to such a view, [[Lacan]] asserts the priority (logical rather than chronological) of the material element of [[language]].
Lacan's view is thus opposed to an expressionist view of language, according to which concepts exist in some pre-verbal state before being expressed in the material medium of language.  
 
In contrast to such a view, Lacan asserts the priority (logical rather than chronological) of the material element of language.
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==

Revision as of 04:30, 15 June 2006

According to Saussure, the signified is the conceptual element of the sign. It is not the real object denoted by a sign (the referent), but a psychological entity corresponding to such an [object]].[1]

For Saussure, the signified has the same status as the signifier; both form equal sides of the sign.

Lacan, on the other hand, asserts the supremacy of the signifier, and argues that the signified is a mere effect of the play of signifiers, an effect of the process of signification produced by metaphor.

In other words, the signified is not given, but produced. Lacan's view is thus opposed to an expressionist view of language, according to which concepts exist in some pre-verbal state before being expressed in the material medium of language. In contrast to such a view, Lacan asserts the priority (logical rather than chronological) of the material element of language.

References

  1. (Saussure, 1916: 66-7)