COG 444 - Assignment One  Due Tuesday, October 8th (NOTE CHANGE IN DUE DATE) But, feel free to email the assignment by Thursday morning.


1) Choose an image.

2) Describe how Peirce would use semiotics to interpret the image.

3) Describe how De Saussure would use semiotics to interpret the image.

Hint: You should try to mention the following:

A) Any relevance of Language, une langue and la parole. Here you might want to write in the "spirit" of De Saussure.

B) Any relevance of signfying (signifier) and signified. (De Saussure's conception of "sign".)

C) Any relevance of "difference" and its important in semiosis.

4) Describe how Voloshinov would use semiotics to interpret the image.

5) Compare and contrast Peirce, De Saussure and Voloshinov. In what ways are their approaches similiar, and in what ways are they different?

6) Using your present knowledge of semiotics, please indicate any shortcomings you see in the approaches of Peirce, De Saussure, Voloshinov.

NOTE: PLEASE USE QUOTES FROM THE AUTHORS TO SUPPORT YOUR POINTS WHERE APPROPRIATE.