Semiotics
According to C. Morris, people are interpreters of signs. Signs have
three factors that guide interpretation:
The DESIGNATIVE aspect directs to interpreter to a particular
object.
The APPRAISIVE aspect highlights object qualities, enabling
evaluation.
The PRESCRIPTIVE aspect directs one to respond in specific ways.
-- from C. Morris, Signification and Significance, 1964.
Semantics - the study of how signs relate to things ... the sign
as designator.
Syntactics - the study of how signs relate to other signs how
are signs organized into sign systems?
Pragmatics - they study of how codes are used in everyday life.
General Characteristics
Analogic - continuous, forming a spectrum or range.
Iconicity - resemblance to the thing being symbolized.
Universal meaning - some codes may be biologically
determined` e.g., emotions
Simultaneous transmission - several nonverbal messages can
be sent at once.
Automatic response
Spontaneity
Proxemics
According to anthropologist Edward Hall, proxemics refers to the
study of how humans construct and manage microspace--the
distance between people in the conduct of everyday transactions, the
organization of space in their houses and buildings, and the designof
their towns.
-- Hall, The Silent Language, 1959; The Hidden Dimension, 1966.
More on Proxemics
Fixed-feature space
Semifixed-feature space
Informal Space
Types of Distance
Intimate Distance
Personal Distance
Social Distance
Public Distance
Posture-sex factors
Sociofugal (discouragement of interaction) and sociopetal
(encouragement of interaction) axis
Kinesthetic factors (body and distance)
Touching behavior
Distance Factors in Conversation
Visual Code (eye contact)
Thermal code (perceived heat)
Olfactory Code
Paralinguistic Code (e.g., voice loudness)
Kinesics
Kinesics is the nonverbal code system of bodily activity; body
language.
Major theorists are R. Birdwhistell, and P. Ekman and W. Friesen
Kinesics - Birdwhistell
Birdwhistells Six Key Assumptions
1. All body movements have meaning potential in communicative
contexts.
2. Behavior can be analyzed because of patterns and repetitions.
3. Although body action has biological limits, the use of body motion
in interaction is part of the social system.
Kinesics
4. Peoples visual bodily activity can influence others.
5. Communicative functions of bodily activity can be studied.
6. A persons use of bodily activity will have unique, idiocyncratic
aspects while also being part of a larger social system shared with
others.
-- R. Birdwhistell, Kinesics and Context, 1970
Ekman and Friesen assert that all nonverbal behavior is one of five
types:
1. Emblems - precise meaning
2. Illustrators - depict verbal message
3. Adapters - facilitate release of bodily tension
4. Regulators - control or coordinate interaction
5. Affect displays - presentation of feelings and emotions
-- Ekman & Friesen, Unmasking the Face, 1975
Illustrators
1. Baton - movements that emphasize
2. Ideograph -sketch of a thoughts direction
3. Deictic movement - pointing
4. Spatial movement - identifying space
5. Rhythmic movement - pacing motion
6. Kinetograph - depicting physical action
7. Pictograph - drawing a picture in the air
8. Emblematic movement - illustrating a verbal movement