What are arbitrary signs?

What are arbitrary signs?

• A. Signs that look like what they refer to
• B. Signs that are chosen at random with no resemblance
• C. Signs that indicate sentence boundaries
• D. Signs that show how something is manipulated

Answer: (B)

Arbitrary signs are forms whose shape or gesture has no inherent resemblance to what they mean; their connection to the meaning is established by convention within the signing community. In other words, you learn what the sign stands for because the community agrees on it, not because the sign visually imitates the referent. This is why the idea of being chosen without a natural resemblance fits the concept of arbitrariness. Sometimes signs are iconic, meaning they visually resemble or imitate aspects of the referent, and those are not arbitrary. The other options describe signs that relate to appearance of the referent (iconic signs) or signs that indicate sentence boundaries or show how something is manipulated, which are different ideas from arbitrariness.

Arbitrary signs are forms whose shape or gesture has no inherent resemblance to what they mean; their connection to the meaning is established by convention within the signing community. In other words, you learn what the sign stands for because the community agrees on it, not because the sign visually imitates the referent. This is why the idea of being chosen without a natural resemblance fits the concept of arbitrariness.

Sometimes signs are iconic, meaning they visually resemble or imitate aspects of the referent, and those are not arbitrary. The other options describe signs that relate to appearance of the referent (iconic signs) or signs that indicate sentence boundaries or show how something is manipulated, which are different ideas from arbitrariness.