A Semiotic Approach to Dimensions of Meaning in Translation

Abstract

This paper attempts to follow the thoughts of Saussure and Peirce, and take their thoughts as beacons to analyze the different dimensions of meaning. Signs exist for representing the objects either in reality or in imagery, and during the signifying process, two dimensions of meaning come into being, signification and significance. Signification internalized in the structure could be understood from the perspective of structuralism. In Contrast, significance is the effect of what is referred to in a synchronical dimension as meaning potential related to the outside systems, which may be further classified into three aspects: metaphorical meaning, implicature and associative meaning. Moreover, the relationship of signification and significance is dynamic, not static characterized by hierarchy, convertibility and coexistence. Moreover, this paper also discusses how to achieve equivalence based on the dimensions of meaning in an optimal way in real translation practice, which includes signification equivalence, significance equivalence and signification\significance equivalence which is an intersection sandwiched between signification and significance. Signification equivalence and significance equivalence highlight the ability of indicating and creation of signs whereas signification\significance equivalence, accompanied by the developing signifying process focuses on the pragmatic fuzziness brought by the speakers or writers on special occasion on purpose