69249454-chandler-semiotics

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GLOSSARY
oppositions, semantic See analogue oppositions, binary oppositions.
orders of signification Barthes adopted from Hjelmslev the notion
that there are different orders of signification (levels of
meaning) in semiotic systems. The first order of signification
is that of denotation: at this level there is a sign consisting
of a signifier and a signified. Connotation is a second order of
signification which uses the denotative sign (signifier and signified)
as its signifier and attaches to it an additional signified.
Barthes argued that myth is also a higher order of signification
built upon language. See also connotation, denotation,
myth.
overcoding ’Overcoding’ refers to structurally simple, conventional
and repetitive texts having what information theorists call a
high degree of redundancy. These are alleged to be features of
broadcast codes. Under-coding is a feature of texts using less
conventional narrowcast codes. See also broadcast codes,
preferred reading.
pansemiotic features Jakobson’s term for properties shared by all
systems of signs (not just verbal language).
paradigm A paradigm is a set of associated signifiers which are all
members of some defining category, but in which each signifier
is significantly different. In natural language there are
grammatical paradigms such as verbs or nouns. In a given
context, one member of the paradigm set is structurally replaceable
with another. See also paradigmatic analysis, syntagm.
paradigmatic analysis Paradigmatic analysis is a structuralist technique
which seeks to identify the various paradigms which
underlie the ‘surface structure’ of a text. This aspect of structural
analysis involves a consideration of the positive or
negative connotations of each signifier (revealed through the
use of one signifier rather than another), and the existence of
‘underlying’ thematic paradigms (e.g. binary oppositions). See
also analogue oppositions, binary oppositions, commutation
test, markedness, paradigm, syntagmatic analysis.
parole See langue.
phatic function See functions of signs.