MIND THE GAP

EXAMPLE

Public signs facilitate the communication of people. Their aim is to convey some message in a direct way. In many cases the imperative mood (a grammatical mood that forms commands, starting with a verb form e.g.: "Keep off the grass") is used to stress force, and since everyone should be able to understand them, the words used in signs are simple. Sometimes there is a simple picture (pictograph), too. Most road signs (or traffic signs) are international, they convey a message with a picture or a combination of geometrical shapes and basic colours. Normally, there are no words needed for the road signs to be understood. They are grouped according to their function, for example, danger warning signs, priority signs, prohibitory or restrictive signs, special regulation signs, etc.

Browse the Internet to find more about different types of road signs.

ACTIVITY IDEA

What do the traffic signs conveying the following meaning look like? Discuss with your partner and try to sketch them.

Speed limit

No motor vehicles

Footpath

Dead end

Train crossing without barrier

EXAMPLE




Roundabout
This sign has the shape of a triangle, the background is white, and the border is red. In the centre, there are three black arrows in a circle.


Parking place
This is a square sign with a white coloured capital letter ‘P’ on a blue background.

Falling or fallen rocks
It's a triangle sign with a red border and white background. On the left side, there is a picture of a hill slope with falling rocks.

Steep hill upwards
It's a triangle sign with a red border and white background, at the bottom of the sign there is a black triangle with a number and a percentage symbol.

End of motorway
It's a square blue sign with a white symbol for a motorway, diagonally crossed with a red line.