Word grammar for graphic sign language

Graphic syntax is defined as spatial arrangement

(Engelhart, 2002).

The human language machine is not restricted to one language. It can process English and Chinese.

The machine is not restricted to the tongue and the ear but can deal with muscular and visual information as well (dance, language for the deaf). For word language and hand-signs language for the deaf, one grammar applies

(Lillo-Martin & Gajewski, 2014).

So, there are three questions:

• Is a word grammar applicable for a visual sign language? When the answer is yes, the next question would be:
• Does the application of word grammar rules, improve sign design? When the answer is yes, the next question would be:
• What is wrong with today’s sign design?

1.1.1 Position grammar for denial

Position grammar for denial

The position of the denying element is relevant. Do not kill him. is not the same as Kill not him. In the ghost driving sign at the right the position of the driver is not clear. Is the driver seeing the red car (the ghost driving car) or is he in the red car? In this case misunderstanding is lethal.

More about this sign.

Wrong way driving is the common wording in English. This might be interpreted as being lost. This wording does not express the lethal situation. The Dutch wording Ghost driving is used here. When the more correct wording Ghost driving is used, psychological design requirements are expressed more clearly. (See below).

The two general denials (red, strike through) in the signs at the right are not related to the denied element e.g. by position.

Consequently, it is unclear what is not allowed. In addition, a general denial (red circle around all elements) is only applicable in a one element sentence.

Children are not allowed to play near toilets and showers on this camping.

Grammar for complex denials

So far simple denials were discussed: yes/ no. In real life, denial is more complex by adding conditions for denial.

1) The top green sign on a ferry door says: This is an emergency exit (only to be used in case of an emergency). At the bottom you can see that the captain added a second sign explaining the meaning of the exit only sign.

The top green sign: <em>Emergency exit</em>. The bottom green sign: in several languages: to be opened only in case of emergency.

2) A similar yes/no confusion is present in the signs at the right.

3) According to denial word grammar rules in language, 2 x no=yes, not unattractive is attractive. This text graphic at the right has one denial in words (niet = not) and two graphical denial elements (red and a cross). It is impossible to understand the meaning of this message.

The Dutch text is saying: <em>You are not what you eat.</em>

The Dutch text is saying: You are not what you eat.

The anti ghost driving traffic sign at the right has two denials (overall red triangle and red car).

At the entry of this motorway in Vienna shows a total of eight denials trying to stop the driver becoming a ghost drivers. According to word grammar denial rules, the meaning would be: Please continue ghost driving. Sign designers seem to be so anxious that their no is not understood, that their grammar is not (as in word grammar) 2xno=yes but the denials add up.

4) Confusing is the use of red to attract attention as well. This bridge sign does not mean: Do not open the bridge. as the colour red suggests.

By the way, sensitivity of the human eye for red is rather low.

Confusing is, using red for no and to attract attention using red as well. An example of a graphic synonym is the red in the emergency exit sign. The red does not mean no (do not use this exit) but Look here. In the experimental signs on this page the meaning of red always is a denial. Attention is directed using the colour yellow.

By the way, sensitivity of the human eye for yellow is rather high.

In 1977 using a word with more interpretations was lethal for 583 passengers in Tenerife.

The licensed, very professional, very experienced Boeing 747 pilot used the OK, meaning OK for take-off, and the licensed, professional, experienced air traffic controller’s interpretation was OK for route clearance. Consequently the pilot did not stop running into another Boeing 747.

2.1. Grammar, denial, and human performance

Not understanding the round bed sign at the right is not lethal. Not smoking in bed goes without saying.

It might be lethal for 57% (n=21) of the in bed smoker who think the meaning of this sign is: no beds available, do not move the bed, do no sleep in the bed, take care of earth shakes, and bed with high hand rail.

The Austrian triangle shaped ghost driving sign at the right is a candidate for the European standard.

In an experiment 69 readers needed 10 seconds to draw any conclusion about the meaning of this sign. That is a lot of distraction on a moment extra attention is needed (entering a motorway). 0% (n= 69) does refer to the ghost driving danger and might not be killed within a few minutes.

More about this sign.

The Dutch anti ghost driving sign has a clear direction adjective (Go back).

The 40 readers needed 5 seconds to draw a conclusion. 8% explicitly refers to ghost driving.

Anti-ghost driving sign. Standard in the Netherlands.

For this experimental ghost driving sign 27 readers needed 7 seconds to draw a conclusion. 44% explicitly refers to ghost driving.

3 What is wrong with today's sign design?

A sign is first detected, then read followed by recognition (in case of a familiar sign). When the sign is selected as relevant follows decision and action

(Riemersma 1989).

The focus of these kinds of models is visual: on readability and recognition.

A premise is that the reader knows the sign. Memory as a basis for communication has some risks.

1) A training and in some cases an exam is needed when the interpretation of a sign relies on memory. In practice the exam is passed, even when performance is not 100% and the meaning of some critical signs is not understood.

28% (n= 54) of the car drivers understands this Dutch maximum car length sign.

Maximum width for cars. Standard in the Netherlands.

8% (n= 40) of the readers understand this Dutch anti ghost driving sign that is in use now for more than three decades.

2) After obtaining his driving license, a driver might forget the meaning of the signs learned and his memory will gradually change the interpretation of the sign to a more (psycho)logical one.

Human memory does not recall. Human memory reconstructs.

3) For public transport and safety signs, there is no training and passengers don’t need a license for a sea ferry trip.

79% (n= 63) of the readers does not understand this green ferry emergency sign.

Assembly point on a ferry in case of an emergency.

There is more about this sign.

4) The requirements for costs, efficiency, safety and comfort increase. Consequently, systems become more and more complex. More restrictions and exceptions have to be communicated.

Technical options increase as well (dynamic, personalized information, more media become available). When memory is the basis for signs, a permanent sign education would be needed.

The risks of misinterpretation and the experimental results show that memory is a weak basis for a sign understanding. What to do? Biological evolution has chosen another way that enables humans to deal with a complex environments. When a few sophisticated facts and rules are available in human memory, then human thinking can create and interpret a large variety of messages constructing a few fundamental rules. Even unforeseen messages in an unfamiliar context can be understood.

The memory based car length sign at the right is understood by 32% (n=37) of the licensed and experienced car drivers. The unfamiliar thinking based boat length sign is understood by 73% (n=33) of the unlicensed readers seeing the sign for the first time without having had any explanation. The other subjects might understand the sign when they would be familiar with the similar sign for car length. The complicated shallow bank sign at the bottom is correctly reconstructed by the memory of 43% (n=46) of the subjects.

Maximum length for cars. Standard in the Netherlands.

Maximum length for ships. Experimental sign.

Maximum length for cars. Experimental sign.

Signs obeying the laws of psychology are far better understood by unexperienced, unlicensed and unprepared readers than signs dictated by law are understood bij experienced and licensed readers.

For a plain sign language, user licenses and user memory are a dead end.
For a plain sign language, sign designers should be licensed and their memory should contain cognitive psychology, including psychology of language.

On this page:

Grammar for graphics

Behalve psychologie voor GUI en web ook psychologie voor: