Signs, Signs, Everywhere are Signs

By Bods

By ladybeames Bridget AMES

As a mother of three busy children, sometimes I feel more like a taxi cab driver than a mom. I have become very familiar with street signs and their meanings.  The stop sign is a symbol that tells people the appropriate action that should be taken. But to a person that has not grown up around cars and street signs, it does not mean a thing. Because of my background and experience I understand that I must "STOP!" Because I have learned the meaning behind many signs I am able to go to other counties and read their street signs too. To the right is a street sign from Norway. I have never been to Norway, but I know that I need to be watchful for pedestrians while driving here. Some people might think that the sixty in the circle means that the speed limit is 60 miles-per-hour. That is a little fast for a road full of pedestrians. Because I know that European countries use the metric system, this sign means 60 kilometers per hour. That make s more sense. When using symbols to represent ideas, people need to be aware of the intended audience and what background they have. What will the chosen symbol mean to them?