[NT] NT's on Semiotics...

[tinkerbell]

Whadduyathink?

Is Semiotics just more psyco-bull or does it really impact peoples understanding......?

think lift symbols, CND, fast forward etc....

Lis

 

[tinkerbell]

sorry the penultimate is suppose to say works some of the time, I can't edit....

 

[Misty_Mountain_Rose]

I'm not catching the purpose of the poll. My understanding is that Semiotics is essentially a study of symbols and patterns of communication within a culure.

Whether or not its 'nonsense' or 'impactful' seem weird questions given my understanding of what it is.

 

[tinkerbell]

Ok maybe I've phrased it wrong,

Semiotics is the study of symbols, people can intuatively understand symbols without explanation.

The Symbol for CND is an ancient Rune for Peace
The Symbol for the Nazi party (swastica) is the inverse of an Indian symbol of peace or enlightnment etc (I think not sure what the exct meaning is, but it's a really big impact in a certain religion and pre WWII it was used massively in US marketing)
The Symbol for lifts door open/closed are not traditional symbols - and seem more difficult for people to understand.

Ok maybe this is not a poll-able topic.

L

 

[Misty_Mountain_Rose]

Actually, most symbols that mean something aren't intuitive, and I think are only given meaning by their culture. For example... give the 'Rock On' sign in Spain and you're essentially telling a guy that his wife is a whore and sleeping around on him.

Many symbols that are portrayed as 'evil' were cast that way by past dynasties that wanted to stamp out the influence of a previous ruler or religion.

Its interesting stuff.

 

[entropie]

There is actually a sign for telling people your wife is a whore and sleeps with other guys ? Unbelievable

 

[Anja]

Misty's referring to the "hook 'em horns" sign. Or the "Satan" sign. The fist with the index and little fingers extended.

In medieval Europe that was the sign of the horns and indicated to a man that his wife had betrayed him. Had hung horns on him, and I don't know the context of that. But I think it was actually used as an insult, rather than an indicator of truth.

Sorta like saying, "Your grandma. . ."

 

[Anja]

I don't know, tinkerbell. The question is, "Are there universal symbols which all can intuit the meaning of?"

Gotta think about that. Like rocking one's arms as a symbol for "baby?" That must be universally recognized.

Or are you only talking about written symbols?

 

[tinkerbell]

Hi Anja

There are certainly global symbols, most of which are bedded in tradition. But there are also a fair few modern ones too, some of which people get others which people don't get.

I always screw up the door open button in lifts, there is somethign wrong with the sign that is not intuative. I'm not the only person to hit closed when you want open. Thats what I really mean by intuative, ones you just get.....

Lis

 

[Totenkindly]

I agree with Misty's definition of semiotics more than the one that was originally given here... it's the examination of signs within a culture, which might or might not be universally intuitive.... and the signs carry a lot of information that most people aren't even aware that they are digesting or responding to, but you need to understand the meaning of the signs if you're going to unpack meaning correctly.

I don't think this particular discussion is about semiotics per se, it's about "bad communication" in regards to the design of signs that really don't convey general information to everyone clearly.

Even then, it's kind of hard to evaluate signs just by isolated anecdote. I was a technical writer for a number of years, and you're always going to find a small percentage readers that just don't get a particular exchange no matter how it's tailored. Same thing with icon creation... although I've seen great icons as well as awful icons.

 

[Misty_Mountain_Rose]

I just remembered this website... its hilarious. All about 'misinterpreted' government signs:

US Department of Laughs