se·mi·ot·ics also se·mei·ot·ics 
(sē′mē-ŏtĭks, sĕm′ē-, sē′mī-)
(sē′mē-ŏtĭks, sĕm′ē-, sē′mī-)n. (used with a sing. verb)
The theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication, and comprising semantics, syntactics, and pragmatics.
se′mi·o·tician (-ə-tĭshən) n.