Peirce's Index, Sign Based on Object Part 3: The Last Part

As one of Peirce’s triadic, index is included in object (referenced) that explains the relation between sign and the object because of causalities relation, such as fire and smoke (Ratna, 2004). Index is related to the certain object because of the causalities relation, such smoke as the sign of fire existence (Cobley and Jansz, 2002). It is clear that the sign, in this case, smoke is caused by the fire.

Another example can be seen in the existence of the wet ground is caused by the rainfall. Index is a mode in which the signifier is not arbitrary but is directly connected in some way (physically or causally) to the signified. This link can be observed or inferred: e.g. 'natural signs' (smoke, thunder, footprints, echoes, non-synthetic odors and flavors), medical symptoms (pain, a rash, pulse-rate), measuring instruments (weathercock, thermometer, clock, spirit-level), 'signals' (a knock on a door, a phone ringing), pointers (a pointing 'index' finger, a directional signpost), recordings (a photograph, a film, video or television shot, an audio-recorded voice), personal 'trademarks' (handwriting, catchphrase) and indexical words ('that', 'this', 'here', 'there') (Chandler, 1994).

Labov and Weinrich as cited in (Aminuddin, 1988) stated that the association of the relation between the sign and its meaning is called indices or index, as the function of symptomatic sign. Thus, index is the sign which appears associatively as the result of the relationship between object and its characteristic permanently.

It is a sign which appears associatively as the result of the relation to the object’s characteristic which is constant. The word cigar, for example, has index smoke. The indexical relation between cigar and smoke happens because of the existence relation to the object’s characteristic which constant between cigar and smoke. The words which have indexical relation will have the main characteristic individually.

Those characteristics are different and cannot exchange one another. The main characteristic of cigar, for an instant, is different with the smoke. In another literature said that index is a sign which shows the natural relation between sign and the object that has the characteristic of causalities relation (Sobur, 2004). It is also a sign which the relation between signified and signifier have causalities relation characteristic, such as the relation between smoke and fire. Signifier is the result of signified where the result here is the causalities relation (Atmazaki, 1990).

Another example is human voice which signifies or indicates the person whom speaks at the time. Thus, the voice which appears here is included as index got from the person whom speaks. Based on the description above, it is stated that index is a sign that shows the causalities and physical relation between signifier and signified, in Saussure’s theory, and particularly refers to the found object.

As this is the last part of the signs based on its object mentioned by Charles Sanders Peirce, Icon, Index, Symbol. Therefore, it is clear about the difference among Peirce's signs and Saussure's signs in semiotics study.

Sources:
Aminuddin. 2003. Semantik Pengantar Studi tentang Makna. Bandung: Sinar Baru.
Atmazaki. 1990. Ilmu Sastra Teori danTerapan. Padang: Angkasa Raya.
Cobley, Paul dan Litza Jansz.1997. Mengenal Semiotika for Beginner. Inggris: Icon Books Ltd., Cambridge.
Chandler, David. 1999.“Semiotics for beginners”. David Chandler’s Home Page.
Ratna, S.U., Nyoman Kutha., 2004. Teori, Metode, dan Teknik Penelitian Sastra. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.
Sobur, Alex. 2004. Semiotika Komunikasi. Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya.

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