Ivan Moreno, De Saussure 9/11/14

Helping clear up the previous reading, during class we went in to the dual components of a sign: the signifier and the signified. The examples used in class included a stop sign, a red rose, and a white dress.While the signifier can be a logo or an emblem with an intended meaning, the signified is the interpretation that can vary drastically from one person to another.

The overall takeaway stated that interpretations were all different because of the previous experience that was used in order to further increase an understanding of the subject. Furthermore, we dove in to the idea that more complex ideas and theories exist because of a mutual understanding. By having a group of people agree on one thing a community can be created. "In language, there are only differences" (de Saussure 2004, 10). Languages/words in itself have no meaning but because several people agreed upon certain sounds belonging to certain ideas, that mutual agreement makes communication form and with time a community as well.