Month: February 2020

Reading this article I was yet again stuck wondering what it had to do with Communication Design, but yet again, was surprised at how well it fit, the writer first going into what linguistics was and how it differed from other scientific ventures, defined language and then moved onto the main topic which was the abstraction and nature of language.
The writer makes clear, spoken language is only one small part of a wider whole that is language, where we take certain things, assign meanings, and then communicate them, a physical process by someone takes note of a physical phenomenon and attaches meaning. The writer makes clear, the relationship between the physical sounds and the meaning that the receiving party pulls from them is completely arbitrary, the idea of a car, and the signs and sounds associated that we use to communicate the idea of a car, are not the same.
How does this relate to design? In the recommended class book “Graphic Design Theory” as designers we collectively, through the universality and remixability of design, play an integral role in what signs and symbols are associated with such and such a meaning, part of our responsibility might be to safeguard language, as it is produced on a massive scale, cheaply, though we often claim no authorship, still play an active role in creating the environment that the author states will be inherited by the next generation to then pass on and build upon themselves.
A clear question arises from this of course, how can one without authorship truly be a steward over their career? Is the lack of an individual mark jeopardizing our language, since we can remain anonymous, and not own up to the work we do and are a part of? I don’t mean to be over-the-top, would the “detached neutrality of the International Style” promote disregard for social responsibility?

Signs and symbols now have multiple uses in our everyday language one that a lot of people are familiar with are emojis. Today in modern context emojis are used to express the emotion a text is meant to be read and some people can see a text without emojis as upsetting or malicious depending on the context.  They’ve become an extension of expression for the younger generation but its not the only way we use signs in everyday life symbols are also shown everywhere for driving we use them as non verbal instructions and warning for people to know of any up coming dangers or instructions on how to get to destinations.

Signs/Signifiers are used in general communication to assist in how people can read and understand information. In this reading Course in General Linguistics Ferdinand uses diagrams to visually show some of the concepts that readers might not understand by simply reading them.

language,graphic,communication and visual arts share a lot of similarities to one another in that they are all forms of expressing ideas.These could be for social reasons like to communication to one another or it could also be for commercial reasons like ads. some of the main differences  among these is how they are supposed to capture our attention for example language is all based on our sense of hearing and so have a more direct impact on us because its more personal in the way we are exposed to it. The others instead are more visual so they have to work to convince us to feel the way they want us to with the use of images colors and fonts.

In the reading given, “Course in General Linguistics” by Ferdinand de Saussure, I have learned the the many categories that the study of linguistics holds. Its a term that not only defines speech but all other forms of expression as well. Semiology is a science that students signs within society that is a part of social psychology. Language relates to semiology in the sense that it is a certain special system within semiological data.

I found the reading interesting because it really contemplates the meaning of language and specifies it down. I’ve learned that language is a system of signs which essentially is the union of meanings, sound and images. In comparison, linguistic signs are not abstractions, however they are socially and collectively approved. With that being said, symbols can communicate to larger audiences in that it goes beyond speech. A symbol must be able to communicate a simple meaning across various kinds of peoples, cultures, etc though it is impossible for a symbol to be completely universal. In America, we use a variety of symbols including emojis, bathroom signs, social media icons, and transportation to name a few.

Language, graphic communication and visual arts relate to each other in the fact that they are all systems of communication. These forms of communication have to adhere to the “correct” way of communicating according to the period that it is in so it makes sense and effectively communicates to that culture/ time period.

 

From the reading named Course in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure. I learned two new words, one is Linguistics and the other one Semiology, which have many different functions in the human’s life and communication. Linguistics is the scientific way to study the human language by observing an interplay between sound and meaning. Semiology corresponds to the sign process and the communication of it. Linguistics deals with speaking in which one person communicates with another. Linguistics is part of semiology and it is considered a tool of design which helps to describe and therefore understand what the reading is trying to say. These two terms show an extension that goes deeper into words or visuals and both shows its importance in the communication field.  

We use signs and symbols in everyday language such as the ways to go to the right or the left. Signs these days have become major communication in human lives that guaranteed directions and a correct way to go which communicates a specific idea. Society is capable of understanding signs that are easy to catch at the present moment. I have seen many signs such as the signs for the bathroom, the traffic signs, hand signs or even the traffic lights which portrays a message. 

Semiology can be broken into parts such as signifiers, signified, and signs which are able to put together communication. Signifier and signified is a combination that portrays a particular idea. Signifier (sound, printed word, or image) is the form which the sign takes and signified is the meaning that the sign gives.  The sign contains the combination of the signifier and signified which form an important unity in communication. 

Language and graphic communication and visual arts are related because language is like a storehouse of sound or images and writing them produces an illustration of them which conduct to graphic. Language gives a way to communicate with others via concepts. Graphic communication projects an image or forms of what the language is trying to say and visual arts helps to convey the message that the graphic is trying to make in society that can be easily understandable. For example a sign must be good and understandable so the viewers will be pleased but if it doesn’t work, society will not comprehend what the sign is trying to say and therefore the sign will not have communication. 

 

What distinguishes semiology from linguistics? Semiology is the study of sign process. Meanwhile, linguistics is the study of the language. In the excerpt by Ferdinand de Saussure’s Course in General Linguistics, he states that “Linguistics is very closely related to other sciences that sometimes borrow from its data” and he provides an example that linguistics is related to social psychology. I agree that linguistics­­­­­ is related to social psychology because in every day language people speak differently. However, they understand one another despite their pronunciation. ­­

Saussure stated in the excerpt that Language is a system of signs that express ideas. This is why we use signs in everyday language because when using signs, it states and ideas or gives a meaning. Like for example, when texting we use emojis and every emoji implies a deferent feeling or meaning. Signs, signifiers and signified are employed automatically because signs are a language that conveys a message that is basically put into a symbol. A sign consists of a signifier which is the word like for example “justice” and the signified is the object.

I think that language and graphic communication are really related because graphic is the visual part of the design and the verbal part is the word and without both the design wouldn’t be balanced.

linguistics the scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics, according to definition.com . The excerpt, “Ferdinand de Sausurre’s Course in General Linguistics”, teaches the reader different aspects of language. How humans communicate with each in everyday living.

The excerpt also shows the reader different scopes of linguistics. 1. to describe and trace the history of all observable languages, which amounts to tracing the history of families of languages and reconstructing as far as possible the mother language of each family, which means different generations has different kinds of speaking language but still has a relatable past of language. For example a kid might talk different to his parents than to his friends.  2. to determine the forces that are permanently and universally at work in all languages, and to deduce the general laws to which all specific historical phenomena can be reduced; arid. Different parts of world may speak differently but it’s similar to another. Lastly, 3. to delimit and define itself. Im guessing language defines itself from words that’s being spoken of.

Being a graphic designer relates to language because when doing a project you want to convey a message by showing your visions through an art piece. An designer want their work to speak and let people communicate through the piece. Communicating as a graphic designer is 2 things, verbally and visually.

The readings by Helen Armstrong, “Introduction: Revisiting the Avant-Garde” from Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field let designers think instead of just going straight to design. Thinking could lead to a better design and sometimes asking yourself why. The history of graphic design is important to young designers. Different design movements inspire graphic designers to go to the next step.

Rudimentary communication methods are relevant for contemporary information systems because technology is expanding. New technology made design to become more easy to access and easier to design a piece. Nowadays there’s a lot of freelancer than a person working for a company. Working for a company can limit your design but expand your social surroundings which means meet new people thats big. Designing is about getting your recognize and be known for you are through your design. Many people can say their work speak for themselves but can’t be box in a room all day. Meeting new people can help a designer reach their goals which is getting your work recognize from parts of the world. Social Responsibility is relate to a lot of designers because most designers design their works by giving messages or reaching a specific audience.

Ellen Lupton & J. Abbott Miller, Counting Sheep, Period Styles, Language of Dreams and Language of Vision from Design Writing Research: Writing on Graphic Design: Lupton Miller Design Writing Research, shows readers and designers that are are different ways to count and write down numbers.  This book kinda reminds me of emojs, maybe this inspired emojs to be event. A faster way to express yourself. This excerpt explain the writings and communication methods to communicate with others in a design perspective.  According to the readings, “Many historians view phonetic scripts as the most advanced stage in the development of writing”.  phonemic alphabet  can help designers approximate pronunciation models, and use dictionaries. What facts or details from these texts provoke ideas for developing new design strategies? Armstrong explains about how this statements can improve advanced designs and have people thinking. Studying each other can improve each design.

Semiology is distinguished from linguistics because linguistics is a sub-category of semiology that is able to be studied in itself due to the fact that it is not connected to any other sciences. It is only compared to general sciences when related to semiology. Semiology, on the other hand, is a science that studies life of signs within society in conceivable. Semiology is the task of the psychologist to determine its exact place.

Signs are used in everyday life once you leave the house. The control of society like the red hand that appears red but then switches to a walking person to indicate you have the right of way. In mathematics, we have signs that tell us when something must be added, subtracted, divided, multiplied, and so on. We use signs to communicate a meaning that is not the sign itself to people.

Sign designates the whole. The signified would replace the concept within the diagram of communication. Signifier replaces sound-image respectively within the diagram of communication.

Language, as we read in the reading Course in General Linguistics, “It is both a social product of the faculty of speech and a collection of necessary conventions that have been adopted by a social body to permit individuals to exercise that faculty” which means it is a speaking and writing ability inherited to be able to communicate with others. This is related to graphic communication because it communicates ideas to others with hopes that the people will engage and communicate what they learned with others. Graphic communication is composed of synergy, which is the combination of text and image working together to convey an idea. Visual art is a general topic meaning any art work composed of any medium. The visual within graphic communication or the image in your head when you speak could be visual art.

In the reading by Ferdinand de Sausurre’s Course in General Linguistics. Saussure states that  “Launguage is a system of sign language that express ideas, and is therefore comparable to a system of writing, the alphabet of deaf- mutes, symbolic rites, polite formulas, military signals, etc.” that mean the semiolgy is the study of signs and symbols where as liguistic is a study of language where language has meaning and sound and sound image.

We use signs in everyday language by the expression As in the reading Saussure explained the Chinese gesture of bowing down to the ground 9 times and expressing the value to others and following the rule. In the reading, he also states that  “Language and this consideration surpasses all the others is at every moment every- body’s concern; spread throughout society and manipulated by it, language is something used daily by all”. This quote means that Language is very important for everyone and each person use to communicate with others by language and it is spread throughout the community that sometimes language can be use negatively to manipulate others.

The sign is a thing that unites the signified that is concept or idea and the signifier that is sound that is linked with the image. In the reading, by Saussure says that “I call the combination of a concept and a sound image a sign, but in current usage the term generally designates only a sound image, a word, for example (arbor, etc).” In this quote explained that adding signified and signifier is called called sign Saussure uses the example of tree. He said the word tree is the concept or idea and the tree image is the sound image that appeare in mind to say that the object that is sign. 

The language, graphic communication and visual arts are related to one another by the signifier, signified and the sign. Each of them needs concept or the idea to work on and each of them has image for example language has the sound image of a tree and artists has to create image or work.