The concept of markedness introduced by Jakobson can be applied to the poles of a paradigmatic opposition (e.g. male/female). Paired signifiers (such as male/female) consist of an 'unmarked' form (in this case, the word male) and a 'marked' form (in this case the word female). The 'marked' signifier is distinguished by some special semiotic feature (in this case the addition of an initial fe-). A marked or unmarked status applies not only to signifiers but also to their signifieds.