Signs & Stories Codes and Semiotics in Family Stories

CULTURAL Code Agreed-upon frame of reference With a “grammar” (system of rules) For making sense and expressing experience Learned through experience

Signifiers & Signified SIGN (icon, index, symbol) is the SIGNIFIER OBJECT of ATTENTION is the SIGNIFIED “(fire)” is the SIGNIFIED of the Index: Smoke What is the SIGNIFIED of an engagement ring? This network of relationships between signified and signifier is the CODE

Diachronic vs. Synchronic Meaning DIACHRONIC—means across time SYNCHRONIC—means at one point in time

SYNCHRONIC When something is synchronic—it happens at one point in time, and therefore, it calls for us to make sense of it— We use the grammar and our experience to do that

DIACHRONIC It happens across time—which means it has been repeated…has occurred at least at two different points in time. It is the BASIS for sensemaking—the way these events are related. If it’s been repeated enough to trigger an EXPECTATION—the absence of the sign will cause dissonance and require sensemaking