semnificats

Semnificats is a term used in Romanian semiotics to denote the signified, i.e., the concept or meaning that a sign communicates. It is the counterpart to semnificant (the signifier), which is the form—sound, image, or written symbol—that encodes the meaning. In the classic Saussurean model, the sign consists of a signifier linked to a signified within a system of differences; the connection between them is arbitrary and defined by linguistic convention.

The signified is a mental representation. It is not a specific physical object in the world, but the concept that a sign evokes in speakers of a language. As such, semnificats may vary across languages and cultures, and can shift with context or over time (semantic change). The signified can be concrete (a dog) or abstract (justice) and can be layered with connotation beyond the literal denotation.

In practice, semnificats are studied through semantics, pragmatics, and broader semiotic theory. They interact with signifiers in producing meaning, and their interpretation can depend on context, prior knowledge, and communicative goals. The distinction between signifier and signified remains central in many Romanian-language discussions of meaning, though contemporary approaches may extend or revise the classic dichotomy.

The term is commonly encountered in Romanian-language semiotics and linguistic philosophy, where it is contrasted with semnificant. Contemporary debates may also integrate perspectives from Peircean or post-structuralist frameworks, treating meaning as dynamic and negotiated within social practices.

See also: semiotics, sign, signifier, signified, meaning, denotation, connotation.