Originating in the Latin word referens, the notion of concerning serves to mention the person or object that makes reference or reflects relation to something . The term is often used to name who stands out and is, therefore, a exponent or a symbol within a certain scope. For example: “Manu Ginobili is the top reference in Argentine basketball”, “The team needs a reference that can take care of the pressure of the youngest players”, "The murdered leader is a reference of the Turkish socialist party".
If carefully observed, nature repeats in all its species a hierarchical structure that, as expected, consists minimally of two parts: one constituted by the majority that follows the other, formed by few individuals (sometimes only one) that Guide the rest. In terms created by the human being, the herds of animals follow their leaders, worker bees work to feed and care for their queen, and people depend on the decisions of our governments.
But from our birth we submit to relations where power reigns; Our parents or guardians are the referents that we must imitate to learn to walk, eat, talk and interact with other living beings, as well as with the objects that surround us. The examples they give us are many and of very different characteristics, and to confuse in a single group all their influences It is one of the worst and first mistakes that human beings make.
A father who works responsibly and uses his money to provide comfort and opportunities to his family (without going into the particular details) can be a good reference for his children in terms of how to take care of their obligations; However, if that same man supports the mistreatment of animals, or makes fun of people who have very obvious physical defects, or if he despises individuals of other races, then that aspect should not serve as reference.
Outside the family, adolescents often look for references in famous characters, especially in musicians and athletes. Again, if they focused clearly on the professional aspect of the stars, there would be no problem in taking them as examples to follow. However, fanaticism causes the ability to distinguish between the human being and the icon, which generates an indiscriminate and dangerous adoration, turning idols into absolute referents.
In the field of semioticsInstead, it is known as referring to one of the elements that make up the sign based on the concrete and real object to which it mentions. The referent of the tree sign, to name a specific case, is the physical element composed of the trunk, the branches, the leaves, etc.
The signs are made up of meaning , significant and concerning . Some signs, however, lack linguistic significance, such as proper names. Name "Charles" It does not refer to a single person or an invariable subject, but there are many individuals with the same name.
Charles Sanders Peirce defines the linguistic sign as a three-sided entity. The signifier is the material support (captured by the senses), the meaning is the mental image (the abstraction of the sign) and the referent is the real object .
Peirce classifies the signs differently according to their relationship with the referent. When the sign shares some similarity or analogy with its referent, we talk about icon (A statue can be an icon that represents a personality).
If the sign maintains a direct relationship with the referent, it is classified as index . A stain on the ceiling, for example, can be a moisture index.
A symbol Finally, it is a sign that has an arbitrary or conventional link with its referent, such as written or spoken words.
