Road signs

Road signs can have a very distinctive linguistic structure.  Have a look at the road signs and the discussion below, then answer some of the questions that follow.

          

Linguists sometimes distinguish three different kinds of clause: declarative clauses, which are typically used when making statements; interrogative clauses, which are typically used when asking questions; and imperative clauses, which are typically used when issuing commands.  Here are some examples:
                 
                  My name is Joseph (Declarative)
                  Who is that old lady? (Interrogative)
                  Shut the window (Imperative)

1. What kinds of clauses do you find on the road signs above: declarative, interrogative or imperative?
2. Why would you be surprised to read road signs that said "Would you please give way?" or "We'd be terribly grateful if you wouldn't mind stopping"
3. People sometimes dislike being issued with a command, and prefer to be asked to do something instead.  For instance, people often feel less offended by the request Would you open the door? than they do by the command Open the door!  Why do you think that is, and why do you think that this distinction doesn't operate with road signs?

You can read more about the politeness issues associated with question 3 in the page on emoticons (click here).

Some road signs can tell us other things about language:

4. Which areas of Scotland might you expect to see a sign like this?
5. Should road signs be in both Gaelic and English across all of Scotland? Why (not)?

 

Some road signs are less typical than others

6. What (if anything) do you think is unusual about the following road sign?

Some road signs can help us to think about other aspects of language, such as the importance of context for establishing what words and phrases mean.

7. Why do you think a supporter of the Scottish Green Party put an election poster above this road sign?  What does this tell you about meaning and context?

If this set of exercises on road signs has confused you, you might want to read this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=467469&in_page_id=1770