Ubiquitous but arbitrary iconicity

Ersu DING

Research output: Journal PublicationsJournal Article (refereed)peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of iconicity, which is largely neglected by Saussure for playing only a minor role in language. What it tries to show through ample examples is that iconicity exists at every level of language, but more importantly and contrary to popular belief, that the motivatedness of indices and icons does not in any way contradict the notion of the arbitrariness of the sign. This paper addresses the issue of iconicity, which is largely neglected by Saussure for playing only a minor role in language. What it tries to show through ample examples is that iconicity exists at every level of language, but more importantly and contrary to popular belief, that the motivatedness of indices and icons does not in any way contradict the notion of the arbitrariness of the sign.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-135
Number of pages17
JournalSemiotica
Volume2014
Issue number200
Early online date23 May 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Saussure
  • Peirce
  • arbitrariness of signs
  • motivatedness of signs
  • indexicality

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