Qualisigns

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Signs that consist of qualities rather than concrete things or actions ; indicators where meaning is based on sensory properties ; semiotic elements representing pure feelings or attributes
2. Representations in which the signified is a quality or sensation rather than an object ; symbolic forms defined by experiential characteristics ; communicative signals that embody qualities alone
3. Elements in a sign system expressing meaning solely through perceived qualities ; communicators whose reference is a property or tone, not a specific entity ; signs illustrating abstract sensorial or emotive traits

Etymology: "Qualisigns" is the plural of "qualisign," a term formed by joining "quality" and "sign." The compound is a technical coinage from the study of signs rather than an everyday word that grew out of folk usage. In the philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce, a qualisign is a sign whose role rests on a bare quality it possesses, such as a colour or a texture, rather than on any actual object it is attached to or on any convention about its meaning. The plural simply names more than one such sign. The first element, "quality," comes from Latin "qualitas," a derivative of "qualis" meaning "of what kind," while "sign" descends through Old French from Latin "signum." Putting the two together gives a plain description of the idea: a sign considered purely as a quality.

Synonyms: qualitative signs, quality indicators