Signs can be absolutly anything, gestures, speech, graffiti, commercials, slogans, expressions, symptoms etc.
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The three signs to remember;
- Iconic (represents what the subject looks like)
- Index (casual link between sign and object)
- Symbol OR arbitrary sign (you have to learn what it means)
An iconic sign shares the visual dimensions of the subject/object. Examples of iconic signs are an Underground sign, typical road signs like the roundabout, gender signs, toilet and disabled accessable signs, no smoking and warning signs.
An indexical sign is suttle and has a connection with an object, or it can be produced by the object it represents ie, smoke indexes fire, hyperlink indexes webpage, flowers index funeral/wedding. However, signs are dependant on context! Example would be the flowers. Flowers on it's own mean alot of things so they become indirect, however, if you stick a bridesmaid with them it becomes a wedding, a coffin or black hearse it becomes a funeral etc. This method is used alot in advertising, mostly used as a selling point in campaigns, it can create humour and relate to the audience. Here are some examples of indexical signs...
Lightbulb could mean light or an idea..
Apple could mean health, Apple Macs, temptation..--Onomotopoetic words are also iconic! Words such as; splash, boom, crash and bang etc---
An Arbitrary sign or symbol has no logical connection to the object, we do not know what the symbols mean until we are taught them. And we are only taught them through cultural agreements. Examples of some arbitrary signs...
radiation
no stopping (most roadsigns you have to learn there meaning)
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