Under this field of study symbols are analyzed and categorized in certain class within the hierarchal system.
The research field was of particular interest for the Tartu–Moscow Semiotic School (USSR).
Linguists and semioticians by the Tartu School viewed culture as a hierarchical semiotic system consisting of a set of functions correlated to it, and linguistic codes that are used by social groups to maintain coherence.
These codes are viewed as superstructures based on natural language, and here the ability of humans to symbolize is central.
The study received a research ground also in Japan where the idea that culture and nature should not be contrasted and contradicted but rather harmonized was developed.