Xref: utzoo comp.cog-eng:1241 sci.lang:5021 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!sunybcs!dmark From: dmark@cs.Buffalo.EDU (David Mark) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng,sci.lang Subject: Cross-linguistic issues in the design of Icons Keywords: interfaces, icons, cross-linguistic issues, Spanish Message-ID: <9268@cs.Buffalo.EDU> Date: 13 Aug 89 14:58:13 GMT Sender: dmark@cs.Buffalo.EDU Reply-To: dmark@cs.Buffalo.EDU (David Mark) Organization: SUNY/Buffalo Geography Lines: 28 CROSS-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF ICONS Last week, I was discussing some issues of human computer interface design with a non-academic, computer-using professional. I was talking about icons, and how they might reduce some cross-linguistic technology-transfer difficulties. We talked a little about the fact that some hand gestures which are positive in our Angloamerican culture are obscene in some others. Then, as a "good" example of icons, I started to talk about the "thermometer" icons that appear on 'salsa' jars and other Mexican food packages in US supermarkets. "Now there's an icon that needs no explanation, a really good one!", I was about to say, when I realized that it might not "work" at all for a Spanish speaker with no knowledge of English. Temperature, the quality that thermometers measure, is represented by the "caliente-frio" axis in Spanish. But the property of the sauce or other product that is being communicated is described by "picante" in Spanish. English-speakers probably accept the thermometer for spiciness without thinking, because we use "hot" to describe both properties. Perhaps a Spanish-speaker with no English would not even see a connection betweem "picante" and "caliente", and thus the icon would appear to be a serving temperature recommendation, or make no sense at all. It seemed like a neat example of cross-linguistic differences having an influence on non-linguistic, iconic, communication as well. Reactions? ________________________________________________________________________________ David M. Mark, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis Department of Geography, SUNY at Buffalo dmark@cs.buffalo.edu