Understanding Meaning Beyond Language

To have meaning is to have importance, to signify, denote, or portend, and to be a sign of something. In essence, everything has meaning, even if it is indirect. For example, rain means that I will get wet, the Earth will regain moisture, and streams will flow faster, among other things. LIFE, in itself, carries inherent meaning.

Meaning in Everyday Interactions

Anything that affects us carries meaning, for it is the effect that an external or internal factor has on us that endows it with significance. We are influenced by various forms of communication, such as music, visual stimuli, and even our own vocal expressions.

Body Language and Art: Beyond Verbal Communication

The ways in which we express ourselves go beyond just language. Demeanor, attitude, facial expressions, posture, hand gestures, smiles, frowns, touching, kissing, eye contact, and all works of art, including music, contribute to the meanings of our interactions.

Non-Linguistic Forms of Communication and Significance

Beyond language, many other forms of communication carry significant meaning, whether in nature or artificially created.

In nature and biology, we find symbols such as DNA, aka the human genome, tree rings, sedimentary deposits, radioactive elements, and even fingerprints. For pathologists, these elements can mean life and death. In the field of music, tunes are symbols that carry deep meanings and emotions.

Artificial symbols include codes and information, such as: music and language as songs, symbols, waves, digital information, analog information, electronic measures, electrical measures, computer processors, RAM, ROM, BIOS, operating systems, computer languages, programs, applications, modems, routers, LAN, phone lines, optical cables, and even human beings sounding under water or from ships or bats, including bacteria and viruses, and magnetic field detectors. These all form a complex matrix of symbols and meanings that we process daily without even realizing it.

Mathematics is another realm where symbols and meaning intersect, forming the backbone of understanding the world around us. From simple arithmetic to complex mathematical models, numbers tell a story that we can interpret and act upon.

The Universality of Symbolism

Across different domains, the concept of symbolism is universal. Whether through tangible objects like computer code readers or abstract concepts like mathematical equations, symbols and their meanings form the basis of our communication and understanding. Every piece of information we encounter, whether in nature or through artificial means, contributes to the vast tapestry of meanings that shape our world.

Conclusion: Significance of All Symbols

In essence, everything has a meaning. From the rain signaling the need for an umbrella to the complex symbols of DNA dictating the blueprint of life, each element carries its unique significance. The key is in understanding and interpreting these symbols, whether they are verbal, non-verbal, or mathematical, to truly grasp the world around us.

Understanding the meaning behind these various forms of communication and symbols allows us to navigate the complex and interconnected world we live in.