Welcome Dear colleagues and fellow researchers. Today, in the discussion on Semiotics, I would like to elaborate upon the concept of Absent Signifiers. Definition: Signifiers which are absent from a text but which (by contrast) nevertheless influence the meaning of a signifier actually used (which is drawn from the same paradigm set). Background: In semiotics and psychoanalysis, the "absent signifier" refers to a missing or absent element that, despite its absence, is crucial for understanding a system of meaning or a concept, often highlighting the structure of that system. Detailed Explanation: Missing but Present: The absent signifier is not simply a blank space, but a significant element that is missing but nonetheless shapes the meaning and structure of a system. For example: Consider the concept of "legality." The "illegal" immigrant is the absent signifier, and their absence highlights the structure of legal citizenship. Not ju...