collision and superimposition of signifiers?

English translation: too many signifiers clashing and trying to prevail over one another

21:11 Feb 11, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Linguistics / semiotics
English term or phrase: collision and superimposition of signifiers?
I have got a question that has something to do with semiotics.

The following is a paragraph taken from David Holmes' Communication Theory. I could not understand what he meant by saying collision and superimposition of signifiers?

"By allowing the construction of oppositional subjectivities hitherto excluded from the public sphere, the Internet’s inherently decentralized form is heralded as its most significant feature – allowing the collision and superimposition of signifiers and semiotic worlds in which the some sense of an authoritative meaning – a logos or a grand narrative – can no longer be sustained"

Thanks in advance
mediaacademic
Türkiye
Selected answer:too many signifiers clashing and trying to prevail over one another
Explanation:
I have found it quite hard to follow the short paragraph and asked my native friends to help me. Although, they also found it hard to grasp the real meaning of what is being said.
The idea that we got is that "there are too many signifiers/icons/symbols used on the net and they all clash and try to prevail over one another without providing clear meanings." I hope this helps.
Selected response from:

Carla Morra
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:29
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
2 +2too many signifiers clashing and trying to prevail over one another
Carla Morra


  

Answers


1 day 15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
too many signifiers clashing and trying to prevail over one another


Explanation:
I have found it quite hard to follow the short paragraph and asked my native friends to help me. Although, they also found it hard to grasp the real meaning of what is being said.
The idea that we got is that "there are too many signifiers/icons/symbols used on the net and they all clash and try to prevail over one another without providing clear meanings." I hope this helps.

Carla Morra
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  acetran
1 hr

agree  Harry Crawford
23 days
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