the ICON, the INDEX and the SYMBOL.

•Signs work in different ways as well as on different levels. A sign can be defined as a lettered or patterned board that gave meaning, command, or directions. There are 3 kinds of sign which is the icon,the index and the symbol.

Icon

An icon is closely related to the things they represents, the meaning is physically resembles what it `stands for'.

Everyone knows that when they see this icon they must alert when train crossing ahead 

Index
An index is a sign that directly points to the message or instruction.Anything that focuses the attention is an indexical sign. 

This is an index sign, giving direction and information.

Symbol

A symbol does not have direct connection to what it represents. The meaning usually needs to be learned through association.

Symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness

This image of ribbon is a symbolize various concerns depending on the colours or the patterns used. For example, black ribbons may be used for mourning.Red ribbon is a symbol for both drug prevention and for the fight against AIDS.Without cultural knowledge, someone might just see this image just a ribbon.

In conclusion,signs have a meaning and some semantic content that is implied or `brought to mind'

Media and Text in context of Semiotics

What is semiotics?

The shortest definition is that it is the study of signs.The word 'semiotics' comes from the Greek word semeion meaning 'sign'.In a semiotic sense, signs take the form of words, images, sounds, gestures and objects. The study of signs is revealing as the ways in which signs are used, accepted and rejected.

A text, within literary theory, is a coherent set of symbols that transmits some kind of informative message.In context of semiotics a 'text' (such as a printed advertisement, an animated cartoon or a radio news bulletin) is in itself a complex sign containing other signs

For example,look the image below and what it tell you?

If you see someone

DROWNING

lol

CALL 911

In the old days, the image would have been interpreted semiotically as a swimmer's head and two arms waving for help and it seems just like a regular sign which telling people to call for help but nowdays initialisms are created through text message communication which lol means laughing out loud, or laugh out loud.Because of the simple text created by people today,this sign just look like a comment that suggests people should "laugh out loud" at the sight of a drowning person.

For me,i myself have see a lot of signs using text until today and sometime used it  too through text communication like after write something nice or to express my feeling for example,i ending it with text symbol like this "(^.^) " which it show the sign that i'm happy .

reference -www.history.ac.uk/1807commemorated/media/methods/semiotics.html

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