Semiotic anthropology is the study of signs and symbols as they relate to culture and society. To express the same idea, other synonyms used in academic circles include semiotics of culture, cultural semiotics, and semiotic analysis of culture. Anthropology of communication is also a closely related field that examines the ways people communicate socially and culturally through language and other semiotic systems. Other synonyms include theoretical anthropology, social semiotics, and ethnosemantics, which investigate how cultural patterns and meanings are reflected in the use of language and other symbol systems. Overall, these various fields share a common interest in understanding the role of communication and symbol systems in shaping culture and identity.