semiotics (noun): the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior; the analysis of systems of communication, as language, gestures, or clothing. a general theory of signs and symbolism, usually divided into the branches of pragmatics, semantics, and syntactics.
Yeah, I didn’t know, either.
I did know that, but I forgot it (I don't tend to use literary terms much these days). How did I used to know it? I read a dictionary of literary terms. Why did I read the dictionary? Because I'm a sad bastard.
Yeah, I didn’t know, either.