international signs

English translation: public information symbols

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	international signs
Selected answer:	public information symbols

10:09 Nov 28, 2013

The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2013-12-02 00:54:43 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tourism & Travel / non-verbal communication symbols

English term or phrase: international signs

Dear community,

I am looking for a technical term describing the system of international, non-language specific signs, such as: toilet, bus, train, tickets etc.

Yes, they are signs, icons, symbols. But there is a term for this system that just keeps escaping me.

Can you point me in the right direction, please?

Many thanks.

Holger Laux KudoZ activity Questions: 9 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 11 United Kingdom
Local time: 15:27

public information symbols

Explanation:
According to the ISO, these symbols are referred to as "public information symbols".

Selected response from:

Donna Stevens
Norway
Local time: 16:27

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +2

public information symbols

Donna Stevens

5 +1

Signs and Wayfinding Systems

acetran

ISO graphical symbols (SYMBOL SIGNS)

Charlesp

4 +1

international pictograms

David Moore (X)

4 -1

signage

Nancy Greenleese

3 -1

Statutory signs

Matthias Haase

Discussion entries: 11

Yorkshireman

Germany

Rune for fire

13:11 Nov 28, 2013

http://www.crystalinks.com/runes_meaningbw.jpg
second from the right on the bottom line

Here are a whole load of other symbols for fire - the Celtic/Druidic sign is the Arwen or three flames.

Runes are not only letters in an alphabet - although Tolkien (who must have known better) seems to want to tell us that they are.

There were runes for gods, elements, animals and various other secular and religious purposes.

Casting the runes (a kind of Nordic I-Ging) would have been pretty pointless otherwise - unless as a game of Nordic or Celtic Scrabble.

Holger Laux

United Kingdom

ASKER

Rune?

13:08 Nov 28, 2013

Yes, rune came to my mind. But runes are letters in an alphabet, not symbols for things or concepts. But I like druid symbol.

Yorkshireman

Germany

Glossary entry "Statutory signs"

12:48 Nov 28, 2013

Meaning defined by law? The pictograms are universally accepted and used, but I very much doubt whether they are legally binding.

IMO, the glossary entry should be

"internationally accepted pictograms" or "universal pictograms"

Yorkshireman

Germany

Rune?

12:41 Nov 28, 2013

If you are looking for an symbol ( which is good enough in itself), you could also go with rune, runic or druidic symbol

Holger Laux

United Kingdom

ASKER

11:53 Nov 28, 2013

Dear Brigitte, sorry, I didn't mean to confuse anyone. Pictogram was the term I was looking for. I will discuss with my proof-reader whether it is suitable here. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to answer.

To Yorkshireman: Petroglyph is a good one, but perhaps still too technical for a casual conversation.

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

@Yorkshireman

11:53 Nov 28, 2013

May I suggest you read the asker's query following Steffen Walter's comment? The answer might not be as easy/straightfoward as it might seem to some.

Yorkshireman

Germany

Context

11:45 Nov 28, 2013

I must admit that I found the question perfectly clear and absolutely unambiguous and understood precisely what Holger was looking for.

As to the ancient sign - take it back a long, long way and call it by its technical name, petroglyph (a symbol carved in stone)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroglyph)

On a humorous note, it could be a PICT-o-gram in Scotland or CELT-o-gram in Ireland :-)

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

Please provide meaningful context

11:34 Nov 28, 2013

As you may have noticed by now, if your question is not precise you might get plenty of answers which might or might not fit.
What kind of story? Modern day? Who (what kind of person) is asking the question? Why not provide the original sentence and some context? In this kind of guessing game I won't even venture to comment.

Yorkshireman

Germany

Pictograms II

11:21 Nov 28, 2013

Here are a few to back up Steffen's entry:
http://tinyurl.com/qc3embs

Holger Laux

United Kingdom

ASKER

10:59 Nov 28, 2013

OK, pictogram was the term I was looking for. Thank you. But now a slightly extended question: Does this only refer to modern-day signs? What about ancient ones? In my translation (a fictional story), somebody asks: "Is there an old Celtic sign for fire?" and I found the word sign too simple. Now, on second thoughts, pictogram is perhaps too modern and technical.

Steffen Walter

Germany

Pictograms ...

10:43 Nov 28, 2013

... as contained in the explanation of Matthias Haase's answer.

Answers

13 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

signage

Explanation:
I would recommend signage for both non-language specific and written signs. A symbol for a toilet is considered signage as well as a street sign.

Reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signage

Nancy Greenleese
Italy
Local time: 16:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

Statutory signs

Explanation:
In signs, a pictogram is the image used to convey the message of the sign. In statutory sign pictograms follow a very specific set of colour, shape and sizing rules. In UK and EU signs the width of a sign's pictogram is set at 80% the height of the area it is printed to. In the US, a pictogram that identifies a room or space (such as the gender pictogram on a restroom signs), must follow specific rules. Other pictograms that must comply with rules are the four "Symbols of Accessibility" specified in the ADA Accessibility Guidelines.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signage

Matthias Haase
Germany
Local time: 16:27
Native speaker of: English

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

public information symbols

Explanation:
According to the ISO, these symbols are referred to as "public information symbols".

Example sentence(s):

There is wide-spread use of public information symbols in the travel industry.

Reference: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_det...
Reference: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Public_informatio...

Donna Stevens
Norway
Local time: 16:27
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

4 hrs confidence:

ISO graphical symbols (SYMBOL SIGNS)

Explanation:
That is what they are called officially, if you want a "technical term" (as you requested).

The international language of ISO graphical symbols

As an alternative, may I suggest the
AIGA developed SYMBOL SIGNS

Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 16:27
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Signs and Wayfinding Systems

Explanation:
Airport signs & wayfinding systems are guides to show visitors the way. From finding the toilets, gates, tranfsers or even the coffee corner, signs are needed to show the way.

Reference: http://designworkplan.com/design/airport-signage-photo-inspi...

acetran
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Hindi,

English
PRO pts in category: 4

1 day 1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

international pictograms

Explanation:
I take it these are what you mean:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q="International pictograms"...

However, they may be standard, but I don't think it at all helpful to describe them as 'statutory', 'cos I don't think they are!

David Moore (X)
Local time: 16:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

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