Semiotic theory

According to Morris, human action involves signs and meanings in three different ways:                                 

The perception stage - the person becomes aware of a sign.

The manipulation stage - the person interprets the sign and decides how to respond to it.

The consummation stage - the person responds

Denotation - what something really is i.e a red rose would be a flower that is red

Connotation - what the interference of something is i.e. the red rose may connote love or could also represent the death of a loved one.