Semiotic Square

Title

Semiotic Square

Description

By semiotic square is meant the visual representation of the logical articulation of any semantic category. The elementary structure of signification, when defined—in a first step—as a relation between at least two terms, rests only on a distinction of opposition which characterizes the paradigmatic axis of language. It is, consequently, adequate for the establishment of a paradigm composed of n terms, but it does not thereby allow for the distinction, within this paradigm, of semantic categories founded on the isotopy (the “family relations”) of distinctive* features which can be recognized therein. A typology of relations is necessary, which will make it possible to distinguish intrinsic features, those which constitute the category, from those which are foreign to it. …The first generation of categorial terms. It is sufficient to start with the opposition A/non-A [S1/S2], and, while considering that the logical nature of this relation remains undetermined, to call it the semantic axis, in order to realize that each of the terms of this axis may separately enter into a new relation of the type A/A̅ [S1/S̅1]. The representation of this group of relations is then given the form of a square.… It is now possible to give a definitive representation of what we call the semiotic square:←→ : relation of contradiction⬸⤑ : relation of contrariety⟶ : relation of complementaritys1 - s2 : axis of contraries~s2 - ~s1 : axis of subcontrariess1 - ~s1 : positive schemas2 - ~s2 : negative schemas1 - ~s2 : positive deixiss2 - ~s1 : negative deixis

Designer

Greimas, Algirdas Julien

Date

1970

Bibliographic Citation

Greimas, Algirdas Julien, and Courtés, Joseph.1982. Semiotics and Language: An Analytical Dictionary. Translated by Larry Crost and Daniel Patte and James Lee, Edward McMahon II, Gary Phillips, Michael Rengstorf. Indiana University Press. Pages 308-309.

Greimas, Algirdas Julien, and Courtés, Joseph.1979. Sémiotique: Dictionnaire raisonné de la théorie du langage. Librairie Hachette.

depict things of type

Typological or Classification

Conceptual

is depiction of attribute

Square

is composed of

Cross/axis

has attribute

Arrow

Dash Line

Solid Line

use feature

Brace

Coverage

semiotics