Signs and Symbols as a Communication strategy: A semiotic study of highway codes in Nigeria

Abstract

Highway Codes comprise signs and symbols mounted or drawn on the roads or road sides, and they form important aspects of road descriptions. These signs and symbols are usually the combination of linguistic and non-linguistic elements, used for the purpose of giving specific instructions and information to road users, with the aim of avoiding incidences of collision of activities on the roads in the course of usage and ultimately, to prevent road mishaps. However, it is discovered that negligence on the part of road users has reduced Highway Codes to mere decorations. Also, it is noted that many road users often assume that they are familiar with the art of driving, and know the roads well enough. Thus, they are nonchalant with driving and pay little or no attention to the Highway Codes, which to them, especially the commercial drivers, in Nigeria, are just mere road adornment. Consequently, the objective of this research is to identify selected Nigeria Highway Codes and analyse the components; especially, the non-linguistic sign sand symbols used as signifiers of specific information about road usages. It also examines the communication components identified in the Highway Codes to show the synergy between the signs and the linguistic imprints and how they all correlate to make communication effective. Using semiotic approach, this work discusses the Highway Codes, as signifiers, which control the psychology of the road users and make the interchange of roles effective among them. It also examines how the Highway Codes can effectively enact principles and creeds through the use of iconic symbols. The research work discovers that the Highway Codes are not put into effective use by the Nigerian road users, mostly due to the fact that attention is not paid to the codes as part of the driving philosophy that users must imbibe. It therefore recommends that deliberate efforts must be made by the officials of the road safety commission, Nigeria and those in charge of issuance of driving license to ensure that drivers not only pay attention to the Nigeria Highway Codes but also religiously adhere to the creeds they represent.

Keywords  : Highway, Symbols, Communication, Road, Codes