Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!mcvax!ukc!stl!dsr From: dsr@stl.stc.co.uk (David Riches) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: Cross-linguistic issues in the design of Icons Message-ID: <2203@stl.stc.co.uk> Date: 23 Aug 89 08:33:26 GMT References: <9268@cs.Buffalo.EDU> <1985@softway.oz> <1989Aug20.005726.27233@utzoo.uucp> <30767@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <816@brazos.Rice.edu> Sender: news@stl.stc.co.uk Reply-To: "David Riches" Organization: STC Technology Limited, London Road, Harlow, Essex, UK Lines: 18 In article <30767@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> thom@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu.UUCP (Thom Gillespie) writes: # My vote for possible universal icon word be the christian cross. How many # cities around the word do you think do not have one sticking up in the air # somewhere? I doubt that African tribes or Central American Rain Forest tribes know about it. If you tried out your icons on these sort of 'lost' tribes I'm sure you'll find that the meaning of an icon is dependant on culture; environment; upbringing and learning. Dave Riches PSS: dsr@stl.stc.co.uk ARPA: dsr%stl.stc.co.uk@earn-relay.ac.uk Smail: Software Design Centre, (Dept. 103, T2 West), STC Technology Ltd., London Road, Harlow, Essex. CM17 9NA. England Phone: +44 (0)279-29531 x2496