Lenguaje semafórico y transformación social

Abstract

This research aims to show how the traffic light through the changes it has undergone speaks about the social transformations we are living. To this end, I will first discuss the object of study (the pedestrian traffic light) and the structure of this paper (introduction, characterization, methodology and exemplification). Second, I will describe the characteristics of this lighted signal: it is universal, but changes in space and time; its fundamental mission is to regulate traffic but at times it can be sued to make people aware, to identify, to adorn and to promote a place. Third, I will explain the two ways to approach the sociolinguistic analysis of the traffic light language: 1) starting from a social fact to arrive at the lighting results or 2) starting with the type of signage and trying to discover the underlying social reality. I will also mention several relevant aspects of the traffic light to consider in the communicative analysis: the positioning, the sounds, the iconography and the sequencing. Fourthly, I will offer a detailed explanation of two significant examples: the traffic light with the symbol of a woman as a reflection of the struggle for equality between the sexes, and the appearance of phone-walking (walking while looking at one’s phone) and the resulting installation of signage on the pavement. Finally, the article will close with conclusions.