Semiotics

Semiotics. What is it?
As far as I know, semiotics is a sub-field of Linguistics.

Is it important to know it?
As far as I study, yes it is. Why? Because it studies signification system or in simple way, it studies sign.

What can be taken as a sign?
As Umberto Eco says, anything can be taken as a sign as long as it has meaning. Fortunately, mostly, somehow, we can find sign everywhere in our daily life.

What are those?
There are colors, objects, people, gestures, photos, pictures, symbols, words, anything (back to Eco).

Who is the founder(s) of it?
A Swiss Linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure and an American Linguist, Charles Sanders Peirce. They are awesome! and after them, there are many more linguists study and each of them has their own theory about semiotics.

How does semiotics work?
Quite interesting. At first, you may be dazzled and confused of it; but, slowly you will understand and get used to it. For example, now every time I watch an advertisement on TV, my mind will automatically start to analyze it both by its verbal and non-verbal aspects.

The benefit?
You can analyze people by only looking at their gesture, gaze, attitude, words, everything on them. So, you won't be tricked. :) . I've proven it.