Lauren Collister is a member of the Linguistics Society of America. Of course, language does change when it’s used to text or write messages on the internet. It’s even become the focus of the field of ...

From the stop sign to the laugh-cry emoji, symbols play a critical and ubiquitous role in everyday life. A forthcoming exhibition at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, “Give Me a Sign: The ...

When a Russian gymnast sported a “Z” on his chest during a medal ceremony that included a Ukrainian rival in an international competition earlier this month, many onlookers may have had no idea what ...

Give Me a Sign examines the fascinating histories behind many of the symbols that instruct, protect, entertain, empower and connect people. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Symbol Sourcebook, this ...

The veterinarian symbol is everywhere—on practice signs, websites, or medication packaging. You’ve probably seen it countless times without giving it much thought. But what lies behind this emblem ...

Whoever started putting the ancient Greek icon on American public health officers’ uniforms had it confused with another snake-and-staff symbol. The caduceus is the “Born in the U.S.A.” of Greek ...