Pictographs

There is considerable truth in the old adage that “one picture speaks more than one thousand words”. Even though the symbols seen here may not replace so many words, each one tells us a great deal at a glance. Pictographs have become a part of everyday life. If looking for an airport, a camping site or toilet etc., they point us in the right direction. They advise us if it’s unsafe to swim because of dangerous currents or crocodiles, the danger of electrocution or if dogs are not allowed – and all without a single written word. A fast, convenient and modern way of imparting information. Pictographs can bridge language and cultural barriers; symbols are not reliant on a written language, one reason why road signs etc. are now often found in pictogram form – an effective global means of communication.
But pictographs are nothing new. On the contrary, they have been around for thousands of years. Among the earliest examples are prehistoric drawings and paintings found on rock walls. These were often not simple works of art but far more a form of writing using representational drawings to tell a story, perhaps of important events.