Pictographic Writing

(also picture writing, pictography), the representation of the content of a message by a picture or a sequence of pictures. Pictographic writing is not true writing, since it does not record speech itself but reflects speech content, usually mnemonically; the picture or set of images predetermine neither the words in which the message is to be stated nor the language of the message. Metaphorical or conventional symbolism is possible in pictographic writing. For example, among North American Indians, a smoking pipe symbolized peace, and in contemporary pictographic writing two joined hearts mean “love” and a square in a circle indicates “no through traffic.”

Pictographic writing is known from the Neolithic period and is best attested to among the tribes of North America, Melanesia, Africa, and the northeastern USSR (Koryak, Yukaghir). Pictographic writing must not be confused with conventional mnemonic and counting signs of a nonpictorial nature (notched sticks, incisions, knotted cords) and markings indicating clan or personal ownership. Pictographic writing is used today as a secondary means of communication, for example, on traffic signs and signboards.