Maybe it’s a sign, you think. You mean that literally. It’s Day 1 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and you’re staring at a wall of words that may signify the name of the street. Or a local ordinance. Or the route to Romania.

You know this much: it’s definitely in Cyrillic. Suddenly, you’re back in the pre-literacy of early childhood, experiencing the world as a dense forest of language whose mysteries you’re not yet able to penetrate.

Showing Obvious Signs

Some signs require no language at all to make their messages clear. Glasgow University uses creative visuals to dish up directions to the student dining hall.

Some wordless signs are obvious. Very, very obvious. At one of Glasgow’s most popular attractions, The Lighthouse, this sign helps get visitors where they, ah, need to go.

Adorable Doors

Other signs are Austen-tacious. Planning to visit the city of Bath, England? Simply trust your own sense and sensibility when choosing a loo.

Please Do Not Read This Sign

Some signs get right to the point. They are down-to-earth so you won’t end up down-to-earth in the worst possible way. Still, getting close enough to read this warning in Co. Clare, Ireland, could defeat the purpose.

After all, isn’t the whole point of such signs to keep you from getting to this point?

What’s Your Mirth Sign?

Some shop window signs are all about the jokes. Like the bakery chalkboard that asks, “Pilates? Don’t you mean pie and lattes?” Or the marquee that drily declares “If it’s in stock, we have it!”

Or this deli sign call-to-action: “Ban pre-shredded cheese. Make America grate again!”

Uniquely British Signs

In London, the very quest for precision can lead to confusion. For instance, in the Underground, Way Out doesn’t mean “Exit,” but the path toward the exit.

One day I watched as a small group of people stood around a trash can attempting to decode the label, Residual Waste Only.

“Indeed, but this bin is for waste that’s left over after one has sorted out all the other waste,” clarified another.

My favorite British signs are often snarky. This one puts a different spin on being calm and “carrying on.”

Signs of the Times

Some signs shed light on old sayings. At Senglea Harbor, Malta, benches are labeled with sailors’ proverbs, some in English, some in Maltese.

Signs to Bookmark

Some literary signs invite us to go by the book. In Dublin, Ireland, well-trodden pavement plaques let you follow in the path of the fictional Leopold Bloom from James Joyce’s Ulysses. Now that’s a footnote.

In Paris, signage, like everything else, becomes art. Fellow OIC Moments blogger Meredith Mullins discovered a creative French take on literature in the Palais Royal gardens.

Artist Michel Goulet has transformed castoff iron chairs into sites for relaxation and versification. Engraved with lines of poetry, the chairs feature ports that let you plug in your earbuds and listen as famous French actors read aloud the complete poem.

Good Signs

Some signs inspire us to do good. At the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, a sign for an exhibition by New York-based artist Jim Hodges invites literal and figurative reflection.

Signs on the walls of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow offer fresh perspective on vision itself.

Signs of Life

Finally, some signs are simply for the birds! Protecting a nest egg is second nature to the denizens of Glebe Gardens in Baltimore, Ireland.

So what’s your (favorite) sign? Where have you found wit and wisdom in public spaces?

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

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Hair-salon puns, like this one in Glasgow, Scotland, are permanent highlights<\/em> of signage.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

Reading the Language of Signs Worldwide<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Maybe it\u2019s a sign<\/em>, you think. You mean that literally. It\u2019s Day 1\u00a0in Sofia, Bulgaria, and you’re staring\u00a0at a wall of\u00a0words\u00a0that may signify\u00a0the name of the street. Or a local\u00a0ordinance. Or the route to Romania.<\/p>\n
You know this much: it’s\u00a0definitely in Cyrillic. Suddenly, you’re\u00a0back in the pre-literacy of early childhood, experiencing the\u00a0world as\u00a0a dense forest of language whose mysteries you’re\u00a0not yet able to penetrate.<\/p>\n
Oh, I see<\/strong>: Signs are an indispensable element of our public spaces.<\/p>\n
Showing Obvious\u00a0Signs<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Some signs require no language at all to make their messages clear. Glasgow University uses creative\u00a0visuals to dish up directions to the student dining hall.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
At Glasgow University, wordless signage offers a running commentary.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Some wordless signs are obvious. Very, very obvious. At one of Glasgow’s most popular attractions, The Lighthouse, this sign\u00a0helps get visitors\u00a0where they, ah, \u00a0need to go.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
This is not<\/em> the universal symbol for a Scottish jig.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
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Adorable \u00a0Doors<\/h4>\n
Other signs are Austen-tacious. Planning to visit\u00a0the city of Bath, England? Simply\u00a0trust\u00a0your own sense and sensibility when choosing a loo.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
“She had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.”<\/p><\/div>\n
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“I’d say this qualifies.”\u00a0
\u00a9 both images by Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
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Please Do Not Read This Sign<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Some signs get right\u00a0to the point. They are down-to-earth so\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0won’t end up down-to-earth in the worst possible\u00a0way. Still,\u00a0getting close enough to read this\u00a0warning in Co. Clare, Ireland, could\u00a0defeat the purpose.<\/p>\n
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An edgy danger sign high above Lahinch, Ireland.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
After all, isn’t the whole point of such signs to keep you from getting to this<\/em> point?<\/p>\n
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A rollercoaster sign in Iowa generates \u201cLikes\u201d from some, \u201cYikes!\u201d from others.
“The Point of No Return<\/a>” by Pat Hawks<\/a> is licensed under CC BY 4.0<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n
What\u2019s Your Mirth Sign?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Some shop window signs are all about the jokes. Like\u00a0the bakery\u00a0chalkboard that asks,\u00a0“Pilates? Don’t you mean\u00a0pie<\/em> and lattes<\/em>?” Or the marquee \u00a0that drily\u00a0declares\u00a0“If it’s in stock, we have it!”<\/p>\n
Or\u00a0this deli sign call-to-action: “Ban pre-shredded cheese. Make America grate again!”<\/p>\n
$\"Shop$
Truth in advertising . . .
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Shop$
. . . Irish style.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
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Uniquely\u00a0British Signs<\/h4>\n
In\u00a0London, the very quest for precision can\u00a0lead to confusion. For instance, in the Underground, Way Out<\/em> doesn’t mean “Exit,” but the path toward the exit.<\/p>\n
<\/h4>\n
One\u00a0day I watched as a small group of people\u00a0stood around a trash can attempting to decode the label, Residual Waste Only<\/em>.<\/p>\n
“Isn’t all waste, by definition, residual<\/em>?” inquired\u00a0one.<\/p>\n
“Indeed, but this bin is for waste that’s\u00a0left over after<\/em> one has\u00a0sorted out all the other waste,” clarified\u00a0another.<\/p>\n
“Ah, so it’s truly<\/em> residual,” averred\u00a0a\u00a0third.<\/p>\n
“Precisely.”<\/p>\n
I can hardly wait to see\u00a0the\u00a0dramatization on BBC.<\/p>\n
My favorite British signs\u00a0are often snarky. This one puts a different spin\u00a0on being calm and\u00a0“carrying on.”<\/p>\n
$\"A$
It’s a hardback life.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Signs of the Times<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Some\u00a0signs shed light on old sayings.\u00a0At Senglea Harbor, Malta, benches are labeled with sailors\u2019 proverbs, some in English, some in Maltese.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
A bench in Malta sums up my affection for the town of Senglea.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
What, no For Sail<\/em> sign? En route to Malta.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Signs to Bookmark<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Some literary signs invite us to go by the book. In Dublin, Ireland, well-trodden pavement plaques let you follow in the path of the fictional Leopold Bloom from James Joyce\u2019s Ulysses<\/em>. Now\u00a0that\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0a footnote.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
A street-smart sign in Dublin, Ireland.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
In Paris, signage,\u00a0like everything else, becomes art. Fellow OIC Moments<\/em> blogger Meredith Mullins discovered\u00a0a creative French take on literature\u00a0\u00a0in the Palais Royal gardens.<\/p>\n
Artist Michel Goulet\u00a0has transformed castoff iron chairs into sites for relaxation\u00a0and versification.\u00a0Engraved with lines of poetry, the chairs feature ports that let you\u00a0plug in your earbuds\u00a0and\u00a0listen as\u00a0famous French actors read aloud the complete poem.<\/p>\n
In short, why settle for la vie en prose<\/em>?<\/p>\n
$\"A$
“How good — to be Alive!\/ How infinite — to be.”
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
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“Let night come on bells end the day\/ The days go by me still I stay.”
(Translation, poet Richard Wilbur)
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
Good Signs<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Some signs inspire us to do\u00a0good. At the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, a\u00a0sign for\u00a0an exhibition by New York-based artist Jim Hodges invites literal and figurative reflection.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
In Los Angeles, simple words herald a big idea.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Signs on the walls of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow offer fresh perspective on vision itself.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
Pissarro’s “Oh, I see” moment, on view in Glasgow.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Signs of Life<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Finally, some signs are simply for the birds!\u00a0Protecting a nest egg is second nature to the denizens of Glebe Gardens in Baltimore, Ireland.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
A mailbox turns birdhouse for a special delivery.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
So what’s your<\/em>\u00a0(favorite) sign? Where have you found\u00a0wit and wisdom in public spaces?<\/p>\n
Comment<\/a> on this post below, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
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Reading the Language of Signs Worldwide

Showing Obvious Signs

Adorable Doors

Please Do Not Read This Sign

What’s Your Mirth Sign?

Uniquely British Signs

Signs of the Times

Signs to Bookmark

Good Signs

Signs of Life

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Uniquely\u00a0British Signs<\/h4>\nIn\u00a0London, the very quest for precision can\u00a0lead to confusion. For instance, in the Underground, Way Out<\/em> doesn’t mean “Exit,” but the path toward the exit.<\/p>\n

Signs of the Times<\/strong><\/h4>\nSome\u00a0signs shed light on old sayings.\u00a0At Senglea Harbor, Malta, benches are labeled with sailors\u2019 proverbs, some in English, some in Maltese.<\/p>\nA bench in Malta sums up my affection for the town of Senglea. \u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

Uniquely\u00a0British Signs<\/h4>\n
In\u00a0London, the very quest for precision can\u00a0lead to confusion. For instance, in the Underground, Way Out<\/em> doesn’t mean “Exit,” but the path toward the exit.<\/p>\n