Semiology

The study of signs and symbols; the implications, invoked sense's and how we relate to each in connection to one another, the final conclusion or even the implied conclusion in relation to every active signified or signifier.
Semiology is the study of how meaning is created, not what it is.
The problem with semiology is in the very definition of the word applying to every aspect of our lives. The word itself confuses its own conclusion in that it is subject to relativity, more or less its own study. Signs and symbols do not carry a solid universal meaning, this extends to all forms of such, even lettering.
Even though semiology is technically very difficult to define, it is this very confusion that makes it very hard to disprove an argument on its definition. My understanding of the word, based on the forms presented to me thus far is this.

Semiology is more than the study of signs. Semiology is the study of age, social class, fashion, quadrivium, the junctures of these and many other aspects. Semiology is how we perceive the world through a relative perspective and how more importantly we perceive other’s perceiving the world.

An example of a semiotic study:

A cigar; a sign of wealth, relaxation and an easy life. The proletariat might perceive this to be a sign of things out of their reach perhaps? The smugness of the bourgeoisie? Furthermore to this we must consider its placement, is this item found as an image or a physical prop? As an image we immediately try to find more its meaning than simply an item. Item’s (I feel) are considered more an immediate acceptance and thus less is thought of them whereas an image is to invoke feeling and an item is usually (in this case particularly) created for the usefulness to ourselves, not for others. Example:

A cigar is used by us to smoke,

A picture of a cigar is more commonly used to the designers end. Advert imagery etc.

Tracing semiology back it is most commonly associated with the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure and American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce.

Semiolingo

Sign: The very basic unit of meaning. A sign is something that creates meaning. (Umberto Eco’s wrote: “a sign is anything that can be used to tell a lie”).

For every sign we have two major aspects:

Signifier: Any material thing that signifies, e.g. text, facial expression.

Signified: The concept the signifier refers to.

For instance the text “man” is the signifier. When we read this we think of a man, this is the signified.

Denotation: the relationship between signifier and signified. The literal meaning of a sign. The text “man” signified to us a male human.

Connotation: This is when a second signifier is introduced. For instance if we introduced the text “idiot”. The picture of the man is then not just a signified but becomes a signifier as well. The signified is the picture in your head. A stupid man maybe?