[Sigia-l] is there a word

[Pabini Gabriel-Petit]

Hi Richard

Richard Wiggins wrote: In school I was taught that a symbol is something
that stands for
> something much larger.  The flag is a symbol of the country, etc.

***[PGP] What you describe is certainly one good use of the word "symbol",
but the word "symbol" can describe any representative image. A symbol can
represent grand ideas and qualities, but can also be a conventional sign for
an idea, object, function, attribute, or process. Musical notes and the
letters that represent the chemical elements are examples of symbols.
"Symbol" is the standard term for the types of images that Christina
mentioned.

> Pre-computer-era, the word "icon" was mostly used as a term for a
> symbol used in religion; in the computer realm, it seems to mean a
> clickable symbolic graphic -- ie it conveys meaning as to what a
> particular graphic represents, eg "send email".  An icon is a symbol
> whose meaning you can intuitively understand; you (hopefully) know
> what will happen when you click on it.

***[PGP] Very true. Russian iconic art is very beautiful. Good description
of "icon".

> Can you elaborate on the distinction you draw?

***[PGP] An icon is a type of symbol. "Symbol" is a broader term than
"icon". One cannot click the kinds of symbols to which Christina was
referring.

> Thanks,
>
> /rich
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