What is signifier at linguistics?

In linguistics, a signifier is the physical form of a sign, the thing that carries meaning. It's the sound of a word, the shape of a written word, or the image of a symbol.

Here's a breakdown:

* Sign: A sign is something that stands for something else. It consists of two parts: a signifier and a signified.

* Signifier: The concrete, perceptible form of a sign.

* Signified: The concept or meaning that the signifier represents.

Example:

* Sign: The word "cat"

* Signifier: The sequence of sounds /kæt/ or the written letters "c-a-t"

* Signified: The furry, four-legged animal that meows

Key Points:

* Arbitrary: The relationship between a signifier and its signified is usually arbitrary. There's no inherent reason why the sounds /kæt/ should represent the animal we call a cat.

* Cultural: The relationship between signifiers and signifieds can vary across cultures and languages.

* Contextual: The meaning of a signifier can change depending on context.

Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist, is credited with developing the concept of the signifier and signified. He argued that language is a system of signs, and that understanding how signs work is crucial to understanding how language functions.

In summary, the signifier is the physical manifestation of a sign, while the signified is the concept or meaning it represents.