Logogram (Noun)
Meaning
A single written symbol that represents an entire word or phrase without indicating its pronunciation; "7 is a logogram that is pronounced `seven' in English and `nanatsu' in Japanese".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- In languages with logograms, such as Mandarin Chinese, a single character can convey an entire concept without divulging its phonetic equivalent.
- The heart symbol is a logogram that has become universally understood across languages and cultures to represent love or affection.
- In certain mathematical contexts, symbols like '=' or '+' function as logograms as their meaning takes precedence over their pronunciation.
- -logogram in an unknown script may retain its meaning for a native speaker of that language even if the text is read silently.
- The logogram for 'eye' is used across multiple languages and dialects, often carrying the same denotation despite the varying pronunciations.