Operationalizing Iconicity

The paper examines diverse forms of overlap between iconic, indexical, and symbolic signs in language. Against linguists who postulate such hybrids as “iconic symbols” or “indexical symbols” in language, it argues that in such cross-classifications of verbal signs, symbols are confounded with legisigns. On the other hand, the paper also shows how symbols may include elements of iconicity as well as elements of indexicality. Evidence is given from examples of onomatopoeic words, diagrammatic icon