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logogram
logogram
Noun
pl: logograms
A logogram functions as a direct visual proxy for a concept or a whole word, bypassing the phonetic requirements of an alphabet. This creates a semantic link where the symbol evokes the meaning immediately, regardless of how the word is pronounced in different languages or dialects.
In linguistic study, this term is used to distinguish these symbols from phonograms, which represent individual sounds. Common modern examples include mathematical symbols like the plus sign or currency signs like the dollar sign, which are understood globally despite having different spoken names across various languages.