Symbol
Image, figure or object that represents an abstract, moral or intellectual concept.
The symbol has to be distinguished from the sign. A symbol implies more than its immediate meaning. Sometimes even the concept represented can be different depending who is considering it. A flag is a clear example of a symbol. As a sign a flag can point to its particular nation or state. As a symbol it represents an ensemble of people and institutions, emotions and non rational feeling in some ambiguous way.
The study of symbols is called symbology.
The symbol has to be distinguished from the sign. A symbol implies more than its immediate meaning. Sometimes even the concept represented can be different depending who is considering it. A flag is a clear example of a symbol. As a sign a flag can point to its particular nation or state. As a symbol it represents an ensemble of people and institutions, emotions and non rational feeling in some ambiguous way.
The study of symbols is called symbology.
[Duersteler, 2003]
External Links
- Symbols.com Online Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms
References
[Duersteler, 2003] J. C. Duersteler. infovis.net Glossary. Retrieved: 2003. http://www.infovis.net/printRec.php?rec=glosario&lang=2