Question

A signifier refers to:

• A. The function of grammar
• B. The sound pattern
• C. An object in a sentence
• D. The process of forming meanings

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The sound pattern

Signifier (as per Ferdinand de Saussure, foundational in linguistics):

In structural linguistics, the signifier is:

🔹 The form that a sign takes — typically a sound pattern or written form (like a word or image).
🔸 It is not the object or meaning itself, but the representation.

Key Concept:

• Sign = Signifier + Signified

  • Signifier: The form (e.g., the sound /kæt/ or the letters c-a-t)

  • Signified: The concept or meaning (e.g., the mental image of a cat)