Iconicity and Indexicality: The Perceptive Explanation of Language

I discuss the nature of phonosymbolism in poetry. My aim is to define more clearly the notion of phonosymbolism as it arises from two main sources: sounds and the images sounds signify. Charles S. Peirce's theoretical apparatus will prove to be central to the present analysis, insofar as the sign will be conceived as the triadic dynamic relation of three entities: sign, object, and intepretant. When the sign is in relation with itself, it gives origin to an icon, an index, and a diagram. Both icon and index will be useful to show the differences between symbolism as it derives from the perception of icons and symbolism when it arises from indices. To illustrate my hypotheses I will refer to selected poems from English literature.