Types of Signs, Language, and Linguistic Varieties

Kinds of Signs

Signs can be classified in several ways:

By Channel

• Acoustic: Perceived through hearing (e.g., spoken words, music).
• Tactile: Perceived through touch (e.g., Braille, a handshake).
• Visual: Perceived through sight (e.g., written text, traffic lights).
• Olfactory: Perceived through smell (e.g., perfume, smoke).
• Gustatory: Perceived through taste (e.g., the flavor of food).

By Relation with the Referent

• Evidence (Index): Has a physical relationship with the referent (e.g., smoke indicating fire).
• Icons: Bear some resemblance to the reality they represent (e.g., a photograph, a drawing).
• Symbols: Bear no inherent relation to their referent; the connection is conventional (e.g., the word "dog", a national flag).

The Linguistic Sign

• Signifier: The material portion of the sign, built by the sounds or letters of the word.
• Signified: The mental representation of an object or idea (the meaning).

Features of Linguistic Signs

• Arbitrary: The connection between signifier and signified is conventional.
• Linear: Linguistic signs unfold sequentially in time (speech) or space (writing).
• Articulated: Linguistic signs can be broken down into smaller units (e.g., phonemes, morphemes).

Language, Speech, and Verbal/Non-Verbal Communication

• Language: The human faculty that allows communication through articulate sounds (oral and written).
• Speech: The materialization of language in a system common to all speakers in a community.
• Talk: Concrete realization of a language by a speaker in a given situation.

• Verbal Communication: Based on oral or written words.
• Non-verbal Communication: Based on pictures, gestures, sounds, etc.

Functions of Language

• Representative: Conveys factual information about reality.
• Expressive: Expresses the speaker's mood or emotions.
• Phatic: Establishes, maintains, or ends communication (e.g., "Hello," "Goodbye").
• Appellative (Conative): Directs or attracts the listener's attention, aiming for a reaction.
• Metalinguistic: Uses language to discuss language itself.
• Poetic: Draws attention to the form of the message itself.

Standard Language and Social Varieties

Standard Language: The ideal model that speakers of a language should know and learn to use.

Social Varieties (Sociolects)

• Diastratic: Variations based on the speaker's social group and education level.
• Diaphasic: Variations based on the speaker's intention and the situation.
• Diatopic: Variations based on geographical area (dialects).

Cultivated and Vulgar Levels

• Cultivated: Closely adheres to the standard language, with correct pronunciation and rich vocabulary.
• Vulgar: Deviates from the standard language, often due to a lack of familiarity with the rules, resulting in slang.

Jargon and Slang

• Jargon (Professional): Specialized vocabulary used by specific professional groups (technical terms).
• Slang (Social): Informal language used by particular social groups, often marginalized ones.

Varieties According to the Communicative Situation

Diaphasic Varieties

These depend on the relationship between speakers, the communicative intention, and the context.

Linguistic Registers

Varieties selected by the speaker to adapt to each communicative situation.

• Formal: Careful and precise use of language.
• Informal: Less elaborate, more familiar language.

Colloquial Language

Characterized by spontaneity and expressiveness, including personal assessments.

Main Linguistic Features of Colloquial Language

• Relaxed pronunciation
• Use of filler words ("muletillas")
• Use of short forms
• Overuse of general-purpose words ("palabras baúl")
• Use of indexicals (words like "this," "here")
• Exclamations and interjections
• Repetitions of words
• Vocatives (addressing someone directly)
• Simple syntax