Let's be real, we need to be more educated on the things we see around us. Today I wore my Harry Potter t-shirt with the Deathly Hallows symbol on it and I was approached by someone pointing at my shirt asking “Are you Illuminatti?”. Seriously people, never mind the fact that this person was obviously not bright, who cares? You would never point at someone wearing a crucifix around their necks or someone with a Kippah on. It took me a few moments to recover from this idiocy and briefly explain that it’s from Harry Potter.
Let’s just get a quick education here:
Symbol:
noun
1.
something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
2.
a letter, figure, or other character or mark or a combination of letters or the like used to designate something:
the algebraic symbol x; the chemical symbol Au.
3.
(especially in semiotics) a word, phrase, image, or the like having a complex of associated meanings and perceived as having inherent value separable from that which is symbolized, as being part of that which is symbolized, and as performing its normal function of standing for or representing that which is symbolized: usually conceived as deriving its meaning chiefly from the structure in which it appears, and generally distinguished from a sign.
Definition taken from Dictionary.com
Icon:
noun
1.
a picture, image, or other representation.
2.
Eastern Church. a representation of some sacred personage, as Christ or a saint or angel, painted usually on a wood surface and venerated itself as sacred.
3.
a sign or representation that stands for its object by virtue of a resemblance or analogy to it:
an icon of womanhood.
Definition taken from Dictionary.com
Sign:
noun
1.
a token; indication.
2.
any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning.
a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as anabbreviation for the word or words it represents.
Definition taken from Dictionary.com
So let’s break it down a bit:
A letter of the alphabet would be a symbol, we know what it means but there is no actual relation between the letter and what it actually stands for. The Ankh, often interpreted to mean “Life” but it is not a visual representation of life itself.
If the image accurately represents the meaning, this would be an icon. A no smoking sign is an example of this. It is a cigarette with a line through it, cannot be mistaken for some other meaning. Most traffic signs are Icons. Another representation of an Icon would be the signs used to let you know which is the lady’s bathroom and which is the men’s bathroom.
A sign is different, if I know that you had blue hair yesterday and today you have red hair, that is a sign that you’ve changed your hair colour. If you arrive at work with bags under your eyes and a huge cup of coffee that is a sign to me that you did not sleep well last night.
Once you know these differences the world around you makes a bit more sense. There is no way that we could learn every symbol, sign and icon that there is. With Icons and signs it is a bit easier to interpret them. As long as you make sure you understand the symbols and signs that you represent each day on your clothes or jewellery. I would also urge you to never assume anything about symbols you do not know. If you are curious, just ask the person wearing it or look it up before you make accusations or assumptions.
One thing I’ve done which was very interesting is to keep a small book with me in which I have symbols and their meanings. These are symbols that mean something to me personally, or ones that I found interesting. After I got to know my symbols and signs the world was a little bit different and I could understand people around me a bit better. A symbol you wear is a reflection of who you are and what you stand for and so understanding symbols, icons and signs will help you get a better read on people and what they stand for.
