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2.2 Icon Versus Symbol

The American philosopher Charles Peirce characterized the difference between icon and symbol as follows:

An icon is a sign which refers to the object that it denotes merely by virtue of characteristics of its own.

A symbol is a sign which refers to the object that it denotes by virtue of a law, usually an association of general ideas, which operates to cause the symbol to be interpreted as referring to that object.[Buc55]

In other words, the drawing of an icon is similar to the shape of the object depicted and is thus instantly recognizable (see Figure 2.2). Symbols, on the other hand, may have no visible resemblance of the object at all. Their meaning has to be learned.

Figure 2.2: Icons of a Car, a Bicycle and the Sun

[height=2cm]images/car-toon [height=2cm]images/bike-crop [height=2.5cm]images/sunshine

Figure 2.3: Symbols for `Give Way', `Fast Forward', and `Love'

[height=2.5cm]images/giveway [height=2cm]images/fast_forward [height=2.5cm]images/Heart-Arrow

The meaning of an icon is more or less independent of the person interpreting it. Thus icons can be used for international communication. However there are limitations. First, only real objects can be represented by using icons. Concepts such as freedom, peace, and country, or feelings like love, anger, and sickness are invisible and cannot be iconized. Secondly, there are cultural dependencies which influence perception. An icon may have a different meaning in a different culture, because the context changed. It may even be unrecognizable.

Symbols are not restricted to objects and can represent complex meanings and ideas (see Figure 2.3). Though some symbols have become part of our culture (for instance the symbol of love), their meaning had to be learned first. Once the meaning is known symbols can be a very efficient way of communication. Well known systems of symbols are traffic signs, functions on a cassette, CD or video player, WC signs, and orientation signs in airports or railway stations.