Signs, symbols, and language

In order to understand why we rely on signs or symbols to convey some messages rather than using language it is important to first know what they are.  A sign causes us to think or act in the face of the thing signified.  It is related to a something to be noted or expected with a situation.  For example we see a red light and therefore we stop.  A good example of how this is different from language is we would surely react differently hearing a persons name then actually physically seeing the person.  A symbol causes us to think about something being symbolized.  An example of a symbol would be words, pictures, or memory images that contain symbolic meaning to our society.  For example, the men’s sign on the men’s bathroom symbolizes which bathroom it is.  This differs from language in that symbols are not spoken they just have a idea associated with them due to our “stream of thought”.  Language is a more effective means of communication because it is easier to relay ideas at any time we wish to do so.  These images have an inherit meaning behind them and are not dependent on our experiences or “stream of thought”.  For example, nearly everyone can identify McDonald’s by it’s golden arches.  This means it is a symbol because it relays a message, but has no direct action attached to it.  It allows us to communicate in a manner that can’t be misconstrued.  Meaning is attached to these words from childhood.  For example, when petting a dog we learn its name and repeat “doggy” over and over establishing that the word doggy is attached to this animal.  Therefore, we do not physically need the dog to understand what we are talking about.  It is also beneficial because it allows us to communicate without needing to see.  We can talk in the dark and no images or signs need to be interpreted to understand one another.  This is why to me a headline or phrase is easier to communicate than a symbol.