Triangle of reference
The triangle of reference is presented in The Meaning of Meaning (1923) by C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards. It may serve as the best key to open up their seminal thesis. This is supposed to be the first of the kind, if any other, that illustrates and demonstrates the semantic trinity, as it were.
Unfortunately, however, they neglected to christen it definitely. The present name "triangle of reference" appears in the subject index and would be formally the best choice. Colin Cherry called it "triangle diagram" in On Human Communication (1957). It is also known as "semiotic triangle" and "semantic triangle." Meanwhile, "cognitive triangle" might be a better nickname considering the current undivided psycholinguistic tradition.
The underlying thesis is closely related not only to the "linguistic turn" at the turn of the last century but also to Victoria Lady Welby's initiative in the significs movement for "mental hygiene." Moreover, it may have contributed to the "contextual revolution" as Jerome Bruner claimed at the cost of the cognitive revolution with which he himself is partly credited.
| THOUGHT OR REFERENCE | ||
|---|---|---|
| CORRECT * Symbolises (a causal relation) |
ADEQUATE * Refers to (other causal relations) | |
| SYMBOL | Stands for | REFERENT |
| (an imputed relation) * TRUE |
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