Semiotic Approach Research Articles

THE MYTH OF ‘ABŪ LAHAB’ IN Q.S. AL-MASAD [111]: 1

The Qur’anic story of “Abū Lahab” is often misunderstood by some who assume that the story is factual-exclusive. This article is designed to examine how the concept of Abū Lahab is understood in Qur’anic terms, and how it is embodied in today’s context. This research uses a library research method with a descriptive-analytical pattern, through Roland Barthes’ semiotic approach as a theoretical basis. Barthes argues that the language system can be understood through two steps of semiotic reading, the first is what he calls the linguistic system (language-object), and the second is the mythical system (metalanguage). To arrive at the mythical system, it is necessary to extract meaning through the signifier system, which consists of three elements: the signifier element, the signified element, and the sign element in the second layer of the semiotic system. Through Roland Barthes’ semiotic reading, the concept of Abū Lahab that is understood to be exclusively addressed to ‘Abd al-‘Uzzā is a myth. Abū Lahab is not a personal name, but a general and universal title. ‘Abd al-‘Uzzā is only one historical representation of the figure of Abū Lahab. From Barthes’ semiotics, Abū Lahab is more accurately understood as ‘anyone who opposes the truth and is intolerant (radical) towards other groups, not hesitating to carry out offensive resistance to them if it is not in line with their personal or group ideology or political interests’. Thus, in the modern context, anyone can potentially become “Abū Lahab” as the khiṭab of Q.S. Al-Masad if they share these characteristics.

A Semiotic Approach to Translating between Arabic and English

Drawing on Arabic authentic excerpts that feature key semiotic signs in English translation, this paper shows how challenging it is for translators to capture the communicative value of such signs. The discussion shows that signs have two important components: iconic and indexical. In a few cases in which a happy coincidence may exist in the language pair, the translator can relay both components and, optimally, capture the semiotics of the sign. However, in most contexts, he/she needs to search for other translation procedures. These may include formal equivalents that follow source language norms, functional equivalents that embrace target language iconicity, ideational equivalents that only capture the sign’s indexical import, or a combination of two procedures. In any case, the translator should pay utmost attention to the interpretant of the semiotic sign in its relevant context because the same sign may have to be rendered differently.

Name and Power Relation to African-American Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

This study aims to explore the relationship between names and African-American identity in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Through a qualitative descriptive analysis, the study investigates how power relations influence the construction of African-American identity in the novel. This study used semiotic approach by applying Charles Sander Peirce’s semiotic theory in examiningg the use of name, as well as sociological approach by applying Michel Foucault's concept of power relations in analyzing power relation to social identity. The findings reveal that names, while significant, are not the sole determinants of African-American identity. The study discovers that, after the Civil War, many African-American characters in the novel chose names of European origin in an attempt to avoid negative racial stigma and discrimination. Instead, the study finds that identity construction is primarily shaped by social categorization and comparison and that power relations play a crucial role in limiting positive representations of African-American identity. This study sheds new light on the relationship between names, power, and African-American identity in literature and provides insights into the ongoing discourse surrounding these important cultural and social issues.

KAJIAN SEMIOTIKA PIERCE PADA FOLKLOR BATU KUDA

This study aims to obtain and describe the moral value of the oral tradition of Horse Stone folklore based on Pierce's semiotics in classifying objects based on the classification of symbols, icons, and indices. Pierce's use of semiotics is related to the uses possessed by folklore itself. All types of folklore, whether oral folklore, partly oral folklore or non-oral folklore, have uses or functions that are very important for human life. This makes folklore in life can describe the way a person involves himself in the midst of community life. The method used qualitative method with a semiotic approach, because the results of data that have been generated and collected on the Horse Stone folklore will be described in the form of written data. Finally, the results of data processing are used as a proposal for literature teaching materials in high school based on the Independent Curriculum in the form of modules. Learning folklore or folklore has a very important role in efforts to preserve noble values and local cultural wisdom. In education, folklore can be used as a learning medium and can be used as learning material for students. The use of folklore as an educational medium can be utilized in various disciplines, which of course the selection of folklore used must be right with the subject matter to be delivered. The use of folklore as an educational medium also acts as one step in preserving existing local culture. Therefore, getting used to delivering lessons through teaching materials is an effort to preserve folklore as part of culture, both protection, utilization and development of folklore in the future.

A linguist among cineastes: Roman Jakobson on the moving image

ABSTRACT The article presents a critical review of the texts on cinema and the moving image written by Roman Jakobson between 1921 and 1980, gathered under the following headings: sound film; Soviet cinema; semiotic approach; metonymy/metaphor; synchrony/diachrony; film criticism and film comparisons. It is concluded that for Jakobson the cinema, as a semiotic system, establishes a link between linguistics and poetics.

The Semiotics of Place in Saudi Women’s Poetry: Ashjan Hindi as a Model

This research delves into the artistic structures and semiotic connotations of place in the poetry of Ashjan Hindi. In her poetry, place is not merely a tangible geographical patch, but rather it is rich with symbolic meanings and connotations that reflect the poet's philosophical vision of her surroundings. Therefore, it became necessary to explore the semiotic perspectives of place through analysis and interpretation. The research adopted a semiotic approach to investigate the artistic structures of place in Ashjan Hindi's poetry, drawing on the foundational concepts of the metaphorical discourse according to Paul Ricoeur in his book "The Vivid Metaphor," which is rooted in the linguistic theory formulated by Emile Benveniste. The research relies on exploring the semiotics of place in the Collection of Poems, drawing on the procedural concepts of imagination as articulated by the researcher Jilbert Durand in his book "The Anthropological Structures of the Imaginary." It is based on the foundational concepts of this theory, especially the terms of patterns, original models, and symbols, in analyzing the connotations of places in the Collection of Poems.

#BimboTok: a critical discourse analysis of hyper-feminine bimbo identities on TikTok

This study adopts a multimodal approach to critical discourse analysis to unpack the discourses embedded in the performance of hyper-feminine bimbo identities on TikTok. Guided by a social semiotic approach to language, this study analyses a corpus of 16 short-form videos published by self-proclaimed ‘bimbos’ on TikTok, focusing on the lexical and iconographical choices of these texts and how they function contextually to signal broader discourses. This analysis reveals that TikTok influencers frequently reinforce hegemonic norms of gender by incorporating bodily signifiers of patriarchal Eurocentric ideals of femininity and linking signifiers of overconsumption and hyper-femininity in their performance of a bimbo identity. Simultaneously, they contest these hegemonic norms by juxtaposing hyper-feminine images with critiques of patriarchal, Eurocentric, and capitalist structures of inequality. Ultimately, the subversive potential of these representations is ambivalent; there is a marked tension between their stated aims of inclusion and empowerment and the intersection of hyper-femininity with privilege.

Communication: concept, essence, content

The article provides a theoretical analysis of the essence and content of communication, which, being an element of social interaction, ensures the transmission and exchange of information in various spheres of human activity. The analysis of linguistic, socio-psychological, activity, cultural, informational and semiotic approaches carried out in the article made it possible to understand the diversity of ideas about communication, to formulate a more complete idea of its essence and content. It also made it possible to identify inaccuracies and discrepancies in the understanding of the concept of communication, which is important for further development and clarification of the theoretical and applied aspects of this problem, and will also contribute to the development of recommendations on the formation of effective interaction and dialogue, reducing misunderstandings, avoiding conflicts and improving the quality of relations, including and legal. The article analyzes the key components of communication. Special attention is paid to its essence, which consists in creating and maintaining social relationships. It plays an important role in the formation of social consciousness, cultural identity and social integration. Communication ensures the coordination of actions and decision-making, promotes the exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as the formation of public opinion. Emphasis is placed on the fact that, by its very nature, it is a multifaceted and dynamic process, covering various aspects of interaction between people. Such interactions include verbal and non-verbal means of communication, emotional and rational components, and social and cultural contexts. It contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and adaptation to changes in society. It is substantiated that the main purpose of communication is the transfer and exchange of information, knowledge, emotions and ideas to achieve mutual understanding. It was found that the content of communication includes informational, emotional, motivational and evaluative aspects. Informational content refers to facts, data, and knowledge that are conveyed during communication. The emotional aspect reflects the emotional state of subjects and affects their perception of information. The motivational aspect is related to the intentions and goals that drive communication. The evaluative aspect includes the evaluation of information and the reaction to it, which determines the course of communication and the subsequent behavior of subjects.

The Types of Discrimination and Princess Diana’s Ways to Pursue Her Freedom in Spencer (2021)

This article elaborates the film "Spencer," characterized as "a fable from true tragedy" based on Princess Diana's story. The focus of the research is on how Princess Diana pursued her freedom. The methodology involves a direct viewing and interpretation of "Spencer," analyzing visual scenes and audio dialogues. Following Roland Barthes' semiotic approach, the researcher identifies denotative signs, transitions them into connotative markers, and ultimately explores the mythic stage. Specific scenes, such as Princess Diana encountering a sign urging silence and her secretive actions in the palace, are dissected to reveal layers of meaning. Through semiotic analysis, the article illustrates Princess Diana's attempts to break free from royal constraints. Each scene reflects the conflict between individual desires for freedom and the norms imposed by the royal institution. The study offers a nuanced understanding of Princess Diana's struggle within the royal family's rules and pressures. The analysis provides profound insights into how "Spencer" portrays Princess Diana's quest for personal freedom amidst the rigid regulations of the royal household, employing semiotics as a valuable approach to unravel the meanings embedded in visual and auditory elements of the film.

Kematian dalam Puisi “Jauh” Karya Joko Pinurbo: Kajian Semotika Riffaterre

The aim of this research is to analyze the meaning of the poem "Jauh" in the poetry collection "Pants" by Joko Pinurbo in 1996 using a semiotic approach developed by Riffaterre. This approach was chosen because it can explore the meaning of the diction used by the poet. To describe the data, a qualitative descriptive method was applied. The data source was taken from the poem "Jauh" by Joko Pinurbo, while the supporting data was taken from various literature related to Riffaterre's semiotic theory and Indonesian poetry. The analysis process begins with heuristic reading to understand the denotative meaning, followed by hermeneutic reading to find the second (connotative) meaning. In conclusion, the poem "Far" describes someone who is thinking about his death. The symbols used in this poem refer to the concepts of death and rebirth, as well as the relationship between individuals and the world around them. This research will add to the treasures of developing literary studies which focus on poetry analysis using a semiotic approach

The Implementation of Roland Barthes semiotics in Al-Baqarah Verse 143 on the Word of Ummatan Wasathan

Umatan wasathan is a way of forming the character of Muslims which represents various differences in beliefs between religions. Umatan wasathan has an important role in maintaining harmony, peace and tranquility so that a harmonious society can be created amidst differences. In the process of its implementation, the Umatan wasathan makes Muslims not to be excessive, to be in a middle position, not extreme right or left, but to have a moderate character that adorns the personality of every Muslim. This research discusses the Umatan wasathan in the Al-Qur'an surah al-Baqarah verse 143. This research uses a qualitative research type of literature study which is presented descriptively-analytically using Roland Barthes' semiotic approach. The results of the research show that the Wasathan Ummah is a people who have a moderate character which is reflected in the ability to act fairly, be balanced, and be able to implement beneficial values. Muslims are asked to be able to combine two things, namely, piety in the afterlife and worldly life. This research recommends that future researchers examine the future of Indonesian life amidst diversity and religiousity.

SDG4, data consensus and the rise of experimentality in global education policy

ABSTRACT Taking the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4 - quality and equity in education and lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030) as a global education policy, this article investigates the accompanying consensus politics. It shows how political consensus among 193 UNESCO member states over the national implementation of SDG4 indicators was convened into a measurable commitment to the production, utilisation, and sharing of education data, a technical one. It argues that, the Technical Cooperation Group (TCG), a political Initiative from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), made instrumental use of indicators (thus data) to formulate and put into practice a global set of policy values dubbed collectively here as experimentality. Experimentality being inherently topological (working in spatiotemporal configurations), these values helped TCG think and act in topologically reflexive ways. That is, they enabled the formulation and putting into practice of spatiotemporal frames critical to bringing the global and the national together into collaborations for SDG4. Advancing the cross-disciplinary notion of experimentality and a topological semiotic approach to policy culture, this paper adds a value-focused perspective to the mobilities research on global education policy. A large corpus of web materials made official by TCG constitutes the empirical basis.

The many socials: how a social enterprise uses social media to communicate social capital-based social value. A case study

Purpose This study responds to the need in social entrepreneurship research for more empirical studies to clarify the meaning of social value. Specially, it aims to explore the meaning of social value communicated on social media (SoMe) within the local context of a social enterprise (SE). Design/methodology/approach A multimodal social semiotic approach was applied to several hundred Facebook posts of a Finnish SE providing elderly care solutions, complemented by secondary data from high-quality press sources. Findings Building on Young’s (2006) dimensions of social value and Hidalgo et al.’s (2021) theorisation of social capital in social entrepreneurship, the authors find that an SE draws on multiple levels of social capital on SoMe to express the meaning of the social value it creates. Research limitations/implications Although limited to one case, this study provides a deep contextual understanding of how SEs can give meaning to social value and leverage social capital on SoMe to do so. Practical implications The authors offer a contextually embedded framework for SEs to communicate social value through media. This approach enables SEs to engage stakeholders more effectively and improve the quality of support for local initiatives. Social implications Improvements in SEs’ ability to communicate social value will increase their legitimacy, thus enhancing their prospects to survive and create sustained social value. Originality/value The authors strengthen the theoretical underpinnings of social value by being among the first to empirically describe its connection to social capital in an SE, thereby deepening previous studies on subjective social value. Methodologically, this study is the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to apply social semiotics to research on SEs.

Makna Patriotisme dalam Lirik Lagu Rock Indonesia

This study aims to construct the meaning of patriotism in Indonesian rock song lyrics using Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotic approach. The analyzed songs are "Jadilah Legenda" by Superman Is Dead, "Garuda di Dadaku" by Netral, "Bendera" by Cokelat, and "Dari Mata Sang Garuda" by Pee Wee Gaskins. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method by analyzing the song lyrics based on Pierce's semiotic theory, which divides signs into trichotomies: qualisign, sinsign, and legisign; as well as icon, index, and symbol; and also rheme, dicent sign, and argument. The results show that Indonesian rock song lyrics have complex and rich forms and meanings of patriotism. Through the use of semiotic signs, the lyrics not only express love and pride for the homeland but also invite listeners to actively participate in preserving and fighting for national values. This study provides significant contributions to understanding how Indonesian rock music can serve as a medium for expressing patriotism and a tool to inspire collective action within society

Preparing learners for digitally mediated academic communication: Digital multimodal practice in students’ knowledge dissemination videos

The advancement of digital technologies requires English for Academic Purposes (EAP) education to incorporate digital-multimodal approaches in curriculum development to prepare learners for academic communication in this digital era. One such effort is the integration of digital multimodal composition (DMC). While the existing studies have investigated pedagogical practice involving DMC, there is still a lack of a systematic identification of the multi-semiotic communicative patterns in students' DMC performance. Using a systemic functional approach to multimodal discourse analysis (SF-MDA) and social semiotics approach to multimodality, the study aims to explore the patterns and characteristics of student-generated knowledge dissemination videos, a kind of DMC specifically pertaining to disciplinary communication targeting non-specialists. The analysis displays students' discursive patterns in the creation of interpersonal, ideational, and textual meanings. It is found that students excel in creating interpersonal meaning through configuring embodied and filmic modes and using popular visuals. However, their performance in conveying ideational and textual meaning needs improvement. Some students rely on technical language with unclear visuals, while others use a limited range of semiotics. Textual meaning created in the videos shows intermodal and intramodal incoherence. These findings can inform EAP course development and enhance students’ digital multimodal proficiency in academic communication.

Service System Design of a Community-Shared Medicine Station

Increasing health awareness has led to a rise in household medication storage, but problems of medication waste and expired medication contamination have been highlighted. We conducted in-depth interviews and developed user personas to comprehensively analyse users’ drug storage behaviours and motivations. Using a semiotic approach to product architecture design and the analytic hierarchy process (SAPAD-AHP) model, we explored core user needs. Additionally, we identified improper disposal of expired medication at home as a significant environmental issue. We propose a community-shared medicine service model aimed at reducing medication waste and pollution through sharing and recycling resources. This model enhances the utilisation of medical equipment, offers users convenient and eco-friendly health services, and promotes sustainable development.

Making sense of a new language: authenticity and semiotics in additional language learning

Abstract The concept of authenticity has received much discussion in applied linguistics and educational studies. Valuable insights have been gained into how authenticity is problematised in language teaching and how to improve the situation by engaging learners with better-designed materials and activities. These achievements notwithstanding, empirical evidence remains insufficient to understand learners’ meaning-making endeavours in real-life learning scenarios. The current study attempts to examine authenticity in additional language learning from a semiotic perspective, which may shed new light on the complex cognitive process of beginner learners’ first encounter with a new language and how this process could be motivated and facilitated by teachers in a classroom setting. Evidence of semiotic articulation and production of authenticity from a low-pressure Spanish classroom is analysed focussing on cultural authenticity, interactive authenticity and authenticity of behaviour and engagement. The evidence is discussed to find how semiotic resources in combination with lived experiences may help learners’ comprehension and appreciation of the target language and its culture. These findings reveal the relevance and value of semiotic approaches to language teaching research and provide practical implications for exposing pre-tertiary young learners to languages other than English for more diverse and extensive learning experiences.

Analysis Semiotic of the Movie Siksa Neraka By Anggy Umbara (Semiotic Analysis of Charles Sanders Pierce)

ABSTRACT The film can be used in preaching. This research aims to analyze the preaching messages in the movie "Siksa Neraka" by Anggy Umbara using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic approach. The research method used is qualitative. Data were analyzed through three main components: sign, object, and interpretant. The analysis results show that the film "Siksa Neraka" conveys various important preaching messages through visual symbolism and dialogue between characters. Some identified preaching messages include prohibitions against speaking harshly to parents, delaying prayers, inviting and committing sinful acts, committing adultery, cheating, gambling, slandering, and committing suicide. This film effectively conveys preaching values through the use of meaningful signs that can influence viewers to reflect on and improve their behavior. This research reveals how the film conveys moral messages and emphasizes the importance of visual media in educating and spreading religious values. Keywords: Dakwah, Movie, Punishment, Hell

Analisis Semiotika Pesan Dakwah dalam Film Horor “Hidayah”

The aim of this research is to enhance spiritual awareness, strengthen faith, and encourage people to behave positively. In the horror film "Hidayah," using Roland Barthes' semiotic approach, this research employs a qualitative descriptive method. The horror film "Hidayah" tells the story of Bahri, a young cleric, who tries to bury his past while working in the city. However, after returning to Mekarwangi village, where he was raised, he experiences supernatural events. According to the results of this research, the film "Hidayah" contains messages of Sharia, morality, and faith as part of its religious teachings.

ANALISIS MAKNA PADA LIRIK LAGU ALENIA KARYA BATAS SENJA DENGAN PENDEKATAN SEMIOTIKA

This research focuses on analyzing the meaning of the lyrics of the song Alenia by Batas Senja. The lyrics of the song Alenia are the first hit single released by the indie band Batas Senja in 2007. The meaning of the song lyrics is important because it is an expression from the songwriter to the public. The aim of this research is to find out the meaning contained in the lyrics of the song Alenia using Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotic approach. Saussure's semiotics focuses on signifier and signified. The method used to analyze data was a qualitative descriptive method. This method was used because the data are in the form of words. The result of this research showed that the meaning contained in the lyrics of the song Alenia is the story of the life journey of someone who fought persistently and never gave up in facing all the trials of life. Besides that, to keep moving forward and not be afraid to always try new things so that it does not just produce a monotonous story. This song encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and aspirations with full determination. This message reminds us not only to dream, but also to act and try to make it happen. Therefore, this song inspires us to keep running to look for new things in life and not stop until our goals are achieved.