Signifier
A signifier is the sound or image of a word. It upholds an arbitrary connection with the signifier and the sign. In other words, there is no logical connection between a signifier and a signified, but, there are social constructions that connect the two. An example would be the word "dog." The sound or image of the word "dog" will spark a category or idea about the word "dog" in someone's head. However, the word "dog" does not define or explain what a dog actually is - it is just a label attached to the animal.
Background
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Uses in other disciplines
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See also
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