Pragmatics and semiotics

[Emiliana]

What's the difference?

[Katya]

Semiotics is the study of signs, where a sign is anything that has meaning. (Words have meaning, so linguistics is a subfield of semiotics, but semiotics can also include images, colors, gestures, etc.)

Pragmatics is the study of how context contributes to meaning. (Wikipedia also offers the definition: "The relation between signs and the effects they have on the people who use them," which clarifies that pragmatics is a subset of semiotics.)

Taken at a high level, semiotics and pragmatics tend to be very abstract fields, so people may disagree on specifics or more concrete aspects of the field, depending on which semiotician or school of thought they're more familiar with.

[Waldorf and Sauron]

THANK YOU!

[Katya]

You're quite welcome. (I will, however, admit to being very mystified as to why you found yourself in need of such information.)

[Emiliana]

Thanks, Katya!

(I will, however, admit to being very mystified as to why you found yourself in need of such information.)

I can't speak for W&S, but I actually got myself confused doing some research on the "triangle of reference" for work (I do some freelance writing on the side -- it's only a step above content-farm work, but hey, I'm getting paid to learn interesting things!).

[Whistler]

oh, Emiliana, I've been doing some freelancing at Deseret Connect. If I may ask, where do you work?

[Katya]

I'm getting paid to learn interesting things!

This is exactly why I like cataloging theses and dissertations.

[Emiliana]

I work for the website wisegeek: https://www.wisegeek.com/freelance-writing-jobs.htm

Like I said, it's a bit hokey, but it can also be a lot of fun.

[mic0]

Hey, that sounds like what I'm currently doing (i.e., the Board (duh)). Looks like fun!

[Whistler]

hey, cool! I might apply .

[Emiliana]

Hey, that sounds like what I'm currently doing (i.e., the Board (duh)). Looks like fun!

Yep, it is a bit like the Board, except with better pay and a lot less personality.

[Emiliana]

Also, the editors and proofreaders on the Board probably let you use Oxford commas, unlike my editor at wiseGeek. Rawr.

[Gimgimno]

Oh gosh. I need Oxford commas sometimes. I help proofread answers, and it drives me crazy at times when writers opt out of using Oxford commas when I think they would be helpful.

I think I would cry a little bit every time that someone removed my Oxfords. I loves thems.

[Emiliana]

Eh ... actually, guys, they're about to start a process of revamping the whole site, and they're not likely to be taking on new writers for quite some time.