Nomenclature of category levels in graphic symbols, Part I: is a flower a flower a flower?

Abstract

This paper extends the hypothesis that convergence is inherent in language and independent of modality (auditory-vocal, visuo-motor) to the visuo-graphic modality. Convergence is defined as systematic relationships of category levels with respective nomenclature. First, the literature is summarized regarding the superordinate, basic, and subordinate levels as three distinct taxonomic categories. Second, it is documented that these category levels are systematically related (“convergent”) to their respective nomenclature in both spoken language and signed language. The lexicons of Blissymbolics and Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) were then compared in terms of their nomenclature at each of these taxonomic levels. The findings indicate that Blissymbolics exhibits expected nomenclature at expected category levels corroborating the hypothesis. However, it was also found that the linguistic device of compounding is prevalent at unexpected lower levels (basic, subordinate). PCS were found to show expected nomenclature at the superordinate and basic levels but not at the subordinate level. Given that convergences in spoken language facilitate concept formation, these findings speak for the need to study the effects of the identified relationships of category levels and nomenclature on concept formation by users of Blissymbolics and PCS, respectively. Several directions for future research are presented.

• augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
• concept formation
• graphic symbols
• language acquisition
• language development