How does linguistic meaning differ from natural meaning such as smoke indicating fire?

In the study of semantics, it is essential to distinguish linguistic meaning from other types of meaning, such as natural meaning, to avoid conceptual confusion.1

Natural meaning refers to a causal or indicative relationship between two phenomena, where one serves as a sign for the other. For example, the statement "smoke means fire" or "spots mean measles" describes a natural occurrence where an observable effect points to a specific cause. This type of meaning exists independently of human intent or social convention.1

In contrast, linguistic meaning is a specialized form of communication characterized by the precision and regularities of language. Unlike natural signs, linguistic expressions are governed by conventions and are often used to convey complex thoughts, intentions, or abstract concepts. While natural meaning is a direct observation of a cause-and-effect relationship, linguistic meaning involves a system of symbols—such as words—that possess specific, shared definitions within a culture, allowing speakers to express truths, ambiguities, or even perform speech acts.1234