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Secret Symbols

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Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic

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Abstract

Signs and symbols are different things. Signs are natural, while symbols are created. We’re not talking “STOP” signs, we’re talking signs that are natural indicators. For example, smoke can be a sign of fire, while a sore throat can be a sign of a cold. Conversely, symbols are referents made by us. The letter Q, the number 13, and the word “custard” are all symbols. In a sense, all languages are a kind of shared code. Sounds, letters, words, sentences, and all the components of language are symbolic. The symbol K is representative of the sound /k/, and the symbol 7 represents the concept of the number following six and preceding eight. But what happens when one symbol is misrepresented as another? This chapter looks at some famous hoaxes, myths, and urban legends about hidden messages in symbols.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Berkeley, USA

    Karen Stollznow

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  1. Karen Stollznow
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© 2014 Karen Stollznow

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Stollznow, K. (2014). Secret Symbols. In: Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137404862_16

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