Information generally exists in the time and space of human society, so information is the most basic and important research field in communication science. Information is used to reflect and describe the objective world, which leads to the existence of symbols to express information. Today I want to talk about symbols. Therefore, it can be said that symbols are the basis of learning communication.

Representation form of information structure: symbol

Before expressing information, you should name the meaning object of the expression. Naming is the process of "referencing" an object by some form of name. After naming, the name becomes a symbol.

The naming process shows that symbols "refer" to an object in some form, which is also recognized by members of society. What is used to is appropriate. If it is different from the contract, it is not appropriate. The name is not true, it is related to life. The established name is Xunzi.

In essence, the connection between a symbol and the object it refers to depends on the established social habits. This is also the fundamental reason why different cultural systems use different symbol systems to express ideas.

According to Saussure, a linguist, language and the objects it expresses can be divided into "signifier" and "signified".

Symbols exist independently. On the one hand, symbols and what they represent are essentially two different things. On the other hand, a symbol must establish some connection with what it represents or expresses, and become a symbol or expression of something before it can become a "symbol".

"A symbol can be an accidental thing (usually something in the form of a language), that is, something that can mark something different from it through some self-evident or established tradition, or through the laws of a language" Susan Langer.

Types of symbols

Pierce classification

Image symbol: it is a kind of symbol, which plays the role of symbol by virtue of some similar characteristics between itself and the object it refers to. In image symbols, the relationship between signifier and signified, or the relationship between symbol form and signified object, shows certain similarity, that is, it looks and sounds alike.

Sign symbol: it is a symbol that plays a symbolic role according to the fact or causal relationship between itself and the object. In this symbol, the relationship between the symbolic form (signifier) and the signified object (signified) is embodied in the symbolic form.