The combination of words to create symbols representing objects or images can be analyzed from two distinct perspectives. Ferdinand de Saussure, for instance, believed that words and signs are arbitrary, meaning there is no inherent reason behind their formation. He referred to this formation as "primary signification." Let's take the word "summer" as an example. The word is formed by combining the letters s-u-m-m-e-r, with "summer" being the signifier (the word itself). The concept or image associated with the word is the signified. In this case, it could be images of the sun, the sea, beach sand, or even ice cream. The final part is the sign, which represents "summer." This is the primary signification.
However, there is also secondary signification, where signs take on additional meanings beyond their literal interpretation. In this case, the sign/signifier is still "summer," but it no longer refers to the specific images we initially associated with it. Instead, it now symbolizes concepts such as youth, love, and temporariness. This secondary signification is also known as "connotation," representing the additional meanings attributed to the signified.
Now, let's address the statement that "myth is a realm of second-order signification." In secondary signification, we use signs to create connotations. According to Roland Barthes, some connotations become so widely accepted that they reach the level of myth. In other words, certain words acquire specific meanings due to cultural and societal factors. Barthes argues that this is predominantly influenced by the bourgeois class of society, as they attribute certain meanings to words based on their culture and lifestyle.
