Word and Image: Separate?

To think about word and image is to separate their meanings, but that is a difficult concept to really comprehend. Signifiers are the mental concepts for signified objects, actions, etc. That seems straight forward enough. A word is a signifier for an object. But the letters of the word and the word itself are signifiers for sounds that represent concepts. These words are images. Their style, shape, size, readability all convey more than their conceptual meaning. A single page of text in a book conveys meaning without even having any knowledge of the content of the book. If the font is large, one can assume that it will be an easier book to read. If the font is very fresh and dynamic, one would assume a more modern book. If a font is heavy and decorative, one can assume an older book or a book trying to portray age. The alignment of the text can indicate the form of the writing. Centered? Spaced out? Could be a poem or a children's story. Numbered? Bulleted? Could be informational. I have at times seen patterns in the spacing of words, or traced swooping lines through pages of text. To analyze word and image as an assignment is to assume that the subjects, are somehow separated from one another. While I do believe a word can portray it's meaning without the visual aspects of the word interfering, meanings are inferred by the form the word takes.

Stele of Minnakht, chief of the scribes. during the reign of Ay (c. 1321 BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minnakht_01.JPG

Spoken word is another interesting idea to consider. Analyze word and image? That could be a movie without any text. The spoken word conveys meaning more than it's concept by adjusting tone, volume, or pitch. Even more meaning is added when a visual of the person speaking the words is accompanied with the words. You can perceive attitude, age, or even station, and add symbolic inferences to what the speaker means because of what they wear or look like.
Analyze word and image? In a sense, if one is to really think about the concept that this assignment is expecting, one can almost say... Word and image are the same thing; symbolic representations created by men and women to convey meaning, to tell a story.

Moulin Rouge Film Ending watch here
This has so many meanings that are conveyed through song (word) and visual emotions on the faces of the actors, as well as the sets, and costumes. If a person had never seen this movie, they would be able to glean a lot of information from this one scene.