Article

Name: Ideogram: on representation of abstract categories

Authors: G. Netchvolodov

University of Tartu, Institute of Semiotics and Cultural Studies

Abstract: In the process of development of pasigraphic systems (artificial pictorial languages), there has been one very important and so far a not solved problem of representation of abstract categories. When reduced iconic signs (pictograms) are widely used and more or less adequately represent objects and actions, which are denoted by them, the representation of complex abstract categories are either usually accompanied by syntactical marking, which complicates the process of interpretation, or fully excluded from development of pasigraphic systems.The practice shows that the problem cannot be solved through a graphic design or within basic principles of infographics. Apparently, changes in the given field must happen in the shift of methodology and, first of all, in the use of an interdisciplinary, synthetic approach, which includes a number of strategies and disciplines, in particular, visual semiotics.

Keywords: Pasigraphy, ideogram, pictogram, visual communication, visual semiotics, interpretation, interdisciplinary approach

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