signifier
UK[ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪə(r)]US[ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪər]
n
A sign, word, or symbol that represents a concept or meaning.
n
(In linguistics) The physical form of a sign, such as a sound pattern or written shape, as distinct from the concept it signifies.
Morpheme Breakdown
sign
i
fy
er
sign
mark
i
fy
make
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'signifier' is built upon the Latin root signum, meaning a mark or token used for identification. The suffix -fy, from facere (to make), transforms it into the verb 'signify', meaning 'to make a sign' or 'to mean'. The agent suffix -er is then appended, creating a noun for 'that which signifies'. This construction elegantly captures the linguistic concept: the signifier is the active, formal component (the sound or written mark) that 'makes' or conveys meaning, distinct from the abstract concept (the signified) it points toward.
Analysis
Structure: sign (mark) + i + fy (make) + er (agent suffix)
- sign: From Latin signum (mark, token, sign). The core element denoting a distinguishing mark.
- i: A connecting vowel, common in Latin-derived words.
- fy: From Latin -ficare, a combining form of facere (to make). Indicates the action of making or causing.
- er: From Old English -ere, an agent suffix indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
In Saussure's model of the sign, the signifier is the sound-image, and the signified is the concept.
The word "tree" is a signifier for the concept of a large plant with a trunk and branches.
The red traffic light is a signifier for the instruction to stop.