Semiotics, or semiology, is the study of signs, both individually and grouped in sign systems. It includes the study of how meaning is made and understood. Semioticians also sometimes examine how organisms, no matter how big or small, make predictions about and adapt to their semiotic niche in the world (see Semiosis). Semiotics theorises at a general level about signs, while the study of the communication of information in living organisms is covered in biosemiotics.

The term, then spelt semeiotics (Greek: σημειοτικοσ, semeiotikos, an interpreter of signs), was first used in English by Henry Stubbes (1670, p. 75) in a very precise sense to denote the branch of medical science relating to the interpretation of signs. John Locke (1690) used the term semeiotics in Book 4, Chapter 21 of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Here he explains how science can be divided into three parts:

All that can fall within the compass of human understanding, being either, first, the nature of things, as they are in themselves, their relations, and their manner of operation: or, secondly, that which man himself ought to do, as a rational and voluntary agent, for the attainment of any end, especially happiness: or, thirdly, the ways and means whereby the knowledge of both the one and the other of these is attained and communicated; I think science may be divided properly into these three sorts. (Locke, 1823/1963, p. 174).

Locke then elaborates on the nature of this third category, naming it Σημειωτικη (Semeiotike) and explaining it as "the doctrine of signs" in the following terms:

Nor is there any thing to be relied upon in Physick, but an exact knowledge of medicinal phisiology (founded on observation, not principles), semeiotics, method of curing, and tried (not excogitated,That is, "thought out", "contrived", or "devised" (Oxford English Dictionary''). not commanding) medicines. (Locke, 1823/1963, 4.21.4, p. 175).

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@chelseagould Media. Something about personal identities from semiotics or the like. I glaze over as soon as the prof starts talking. :/
PhraseMe (Michelle) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:28:26 -0000
@chelseagould Media. Something about personal identities from semiotics or the like. I glaze over as soon as the prof starts talking. :/
Presentation on Semiotics today, and conspiracy in the media lol go figure.
MaddD143 (Danelle Lowe ) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:24:06 -0000
Presentation on Semiotics today, and conspiracy in the media lol go figure.
after reading Roland Barthes 'a Lovers Discourse' now plowing through Jonathan Bignells Media Semiotics...
whlucas (willem henri lucas) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:41:00 -0000
after reading Roland Barthes 'a Lovers Discourse' now plowing through Jonathan Bignells Media Semiotics...
when you're a media studies grad, you unconsciously try to find semiotics in a song...tho i do wonder if i'm just linguistically obsessive
kopijunkie (Kimmi G.) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:21:50 -0000
when you're a media studies grad, you unconsciously try to find semiotics in a song...tho i do wonder if i'm just linguistically obsessive
Putting together a powerpoint on semiotics for year 13 Media students; might nip down to the poetry workshop in Durham later, if Muse around
Aristertw (Ariste Metaxas) Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:39:26 -0000
Putting together a powerpoint on semiotics for year 13 Media students; might nip down to the poetry workshop in Durham later, if Muse around

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