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Japanese symbols that speak without words

arun.is

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Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#11

Post by lxgr »

netsharc wrote: post #3

The logo expressing "Limited Express" is very unspecific, imagine if buses with the Mercedes star cost extra and didn't stop at every stop. Interesting that a lot of US road signs have words on them: https://ygraph.com/graphs/roadsigns-20120316T030941-ekrruua.... , or are obvious, whereas in Europe drivers need to learn what they mean: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh... For example the yi…

When in doubt, I’ll take a somewhat mysterious pictogram over a written sign in a language I don’t understand.

Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#12

Post by z2 »

netsharc wrote: post #3

The logo expressing "Limited Express" is very unspecific, imagine if buses with the Mercedes star cost extra and didn't stop at every stop. Interesting that a lot of US road signs have words on them: https://ygraph.com/graphs/roadsigns-20120316T030941-ekrruua.... , or are obvious, whereas in Europe drivers need to learn what they mean: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh... For example the yi…

Both have pretty enjoyable design language. The US signs follow colors, red for prohibition, white for rules, yellow for hazards, green for directional and blue for service. For Europe or the Vienna convention that much of the world uses, in respective order it's red for prohibition, circles for rules, triangle for hazards.

Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#13

Post by xnx »

z2 wrote: post #12
netsharc wrote: post #3

The logo expressing "Limited Express" is very unspecific, imagine if buses with the Mercedes star cost extra and didn't stop at every stop. Interesting that a lot of US road signs have words on them: https://ygraph.com/graphs/roadsigns-20120316T030941-ekrruua.... , or are obvious, whereas in Europe drivers need to learn what they mean: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh... For example the yi…

Both have pretty enjoyable design language. The US signs follow colors, red for prohibition, white for rules, yellow for hazards, green for directional and blue for service. For Europe or the Vienna convention that much of the world uses, in respective order it's red for prohibition, circles for rules, triangle for hazards.

And brown road signs for tourist attractions, recreational areas, and cultural or historical sites.

Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#15

Post by ggm »

robocat wrote: post #2

The common theme for the discussed symbols is consideration for others. In New Zealand we require a yellow [L] sign on cars with learner drivers (with learners drivers licenses). However I get the impression that other drivers are less considerate around a car displaying the [L] sign. I suspect New Zealanders are generally far less considerate than Japanese. Politeness avoids a trillion sharp edges. We also seem to b…

Also in the UK and Aus. It's bizarre that a sign saying "I'm learning, be kind" encourages some people to monster you, follow you swearing, generally hassle you.

(33 years ago, still in my memory)

It's as if they think it means HTFU and then go to hazing.

Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#16

Post by JimTheMan »

robocat wrote: post #2

The common theme for the discussed symbols is consideration for others. In New Zealand we require a yellow [L] sign on cars with learner drivers (with learners drivers licenses). However I get the impression that other drivers are less considerate around a car displaying the [L] sign. I suspect New Zealanders are generally far less considerate than Japanese. Politeness avoids a trillion sharp edges. We also seem to b…

I didn't find that to the case in Australia, as someone who had L's for far longer than is standard.

Mostly it meant that people gave you a wide berth, as learner drivers are unpredictable at times. So basically, what the sign intends.

It surprises me to hear that about NZ? As I think of NZ, as our friendlier cousin.

Just goes to show that our experiences are always hyperlocalised, and it's hard to actually make generalisations without actual data.

Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#17

Post by IndySun »

comradesmith wrote: post #14
IndySun wrote: post #6

If "drivers of private vehicles in Japan", must understand these "four symbols" then these are not "Japanese symbols that speak without words".

I don’t understand your comment. Can you spell it out for me?

The article is decent, but the headline is saying something demonstrably false - evidenced by the article itself.

Not one of the symbols can possibly be understood as to its intended meaning without learning what the symbol represents - that is to say, simply by looking at any of them in no way whatsoever suggests, hints, or shows their meaning in the appropriate context.

Re: Japanese symbols that speak without words

#18

Post by skillina »

netsharc wrote: post #3

The logo expressing "Limited Express" is very unspecific, imagine if buses with the Mercedes star cost extra and didn't stop at every stop. Interesting that a lot of US road signs have words on them: https://ygraph.com/graphs/roadsigns-20120316T030941-ekrruua.... , or are obvious, whereas in Europe drivers need to learn what they mean: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh... For example the yi…

> Interesting that a lot of US road signs have words on them... whereas in Europe drivers need to learn what they mean

I mean... Europe had to develop a system that works regardless of whether you speak the local language. The USA assumed every driver would speak English. I would tend to favor the European strategy, though given how we've held out on adopting the metric system I won't hold my breath.

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