General language

General language

Use this category for general terms related to languages.

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General language

idealism

Language; General language

A philosophical (specifically epistemological) stance on 'what is real?' in which, in its extreme form, it is argued that reality is purely subjective and is constructed in our use of signs. ...

ideological codes

Language; General language

One of the types of interpretative codes, notably, the 'isms', such as: individualism, capitalism, liberalism, conservatism, feminism, materialism, consumerism and populism.

There are no ideologically 'neutral' sign systems: signs function to persuade as well as to refer. Modern semiotic theory is often allied with a Marxist approach which stresses the role of ideology. ...

idiolect

Language; General language

A term from sociolinguistics referring to the distinctive ways in which language is used by individuals. In semiotic terms it can refer more broadly to the stylistic and personal subcodes of ...

imaginary

Language; General language

The Imaginary' is Lacan's term for a realm in which the construction of the Self as subject is initiated. Initially the infant has no centre of identity and there are no clear boundaries between ...

imaginary signifier

Language; General language

This term was used by Christian Metz to refer to the cinematic signifier. The term is used in more than one sense. The cinematic signifier is 'imaginary' by virtue of an apparent perceptual ...

indexical

Language; General language

A mode in which the signifier is not purely arbitrary but is directly connected in some way (physically or causally) to the signified - this link can be observed or inferred (e.g. smoke, ...