Significati

Significati is the plural of significato in Italian and refers to the meanings or senses conveyed by signs, words, and symbols. In linguistics and semiotics, significato denotes the content or concept a sign communicates, while the signifiant (significante) is the form that expresses it. The relationship between significato and signifiant is a central topic in the study of how language conveys meaning, though many modern approaches emphasize context and use as sources of meaning.

Meanings can be denotative (literal reference), connotative (associations and evaluative content), or contextual (dependent on situation, audience, and culture). Words often have multiple significati (polysemy), and their senses can shift across genres, communities, or languages.

In addition to words, the term applies to signs such as symbols and images, where significato encompasses the idea or concept the sign evokes. In philosophy of language, significato is sometimes linked to sense and intention, with references to Fregean ideas as a framework.

Etymology: significati comes from Latin significatus, from significare, to signify. The concept is foundational in linguistics, semiotics, and communication studies for understanding how people share knowledge and interpret signs.