one of kristeva's most important contributions is that signification is composed of two elements: the symbolic and the "semiotic". that use of semiotic is different from the discipline of semiotics founded by ferdinand de saussure. augustine perumalil explained that kristeva's "semiotic is closely related to the infantile pre-oedipal referred to in the works of freud, otto rank, melanie klein, british object relation psychoanalysis, and lacan's pre-mirror stage." it is an emotional field that is related to the instincts in the gaps and sounds of language rather than in the denotative meanings of words. according to birgit schippers, the semiotic is associated with music, poetry, rhythm, and that which lacks structure and meaning. it is closely tied to the "feminine" and shows the state of the pre-mirror stage infant that has not yet developed independently.