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Carl G. Liungman

Dictionary of Symbols (Norton Paperback) Paperback – Illustrated, February 17, 1995

by Carl G. Liungman (Author)

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"There is nothing quite like this well-researched book."―Library Journal

From early cave drawings to modern corporate logos, graphic symbols have been used to convey meanings both tangible and abstract. In this unique dictionary, Carl G. Liungman puts approximately 2,500 Western graphic symbols at your fingertips. Each entry includes the sign's history, its meanings, and the systems in which it is used. Symbols are cross-referenced to other signs with the same meanings and to structurally similar signs with different meanings. Locating an entry is as easy as looking up a word in a dictionary, due to a system that classifies each sign on the basis of three of its structural features.

Enhancing the dictionary is a series of fascinating discussions of various aspects of ideograms. These include a discussion of signs and meanings, an overview of the historical development of signs, as well as sections on ancient American ideograms, the astrological system of symbols, the mystical pentagram, and the signs of the alchemists. Two indexes aid the reader. The Word Index specifies signs with a given name or meaning, along with subject headings. The Graphic Index displays symbols based on their structural features.

Dictionary of Symbols serves both as a valuable reference on Western cultural history and as a professional tool for those working in design and the arts.

Print length

608 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

February 17, 1995
Dimensions

6.2 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches
ISBN-10

0393312364
ISBN-13

978-0393312362
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book will certainly become one of the key sources for tracing symbols and their meanings."
― American Libraries

About the Author

Carl G. Liungman is a Swedish scholar and author.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (February 17, 1995)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393312364
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393312362
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #267,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #102 in Mythology & Folklore Encyclopedias
- #396 in Dictionaries (Books)
- #695 in Folklore & Mythology Studies

Customer Reviews:
139 ratings

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Joel

Useful but Organizationally Flawed

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 25, 2002

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This is a rich sourcebook of information about graphic symbols from around the world. The text is detailed and covers the subject in depth. Several articles at the beginning of the book discuss the various uses of these signs and symbols around the world. The book's key failure, IMHO, is that the author uses an indexing system that is hard to follow. For example, you will found various kinds of crosses scattered through many categories. It is hard to understand exactly what led him to group which symbols where. On a few occasions, you will find symbols grouped with signs that seemingly bear no relationship in either shape or meaning. Use this book for the definitions, but be prepared to wade through a lot of material if you don't happen to know the name of the sign at the start of your research.

20 people found this helpful

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bibliomane01

Gray's Anatomy for the Searcher After Symbols

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 7, 2001

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Most books on symbols confine themselves to higher level abstractions such as "the lion" or "mercury" or the letters of the alphabet. Liungman's achievement is to create a comprehensive taxonomy for symbols that uses the most basic shapes as building blocks to create ascending chains of meaning. As such, it is an original work of scholarship rather than a gazetteer of common symbols. "The Dictionary of Symbols" is a gold mine of information for readers interested in graphic design or the "semiotics," if I may be allowed to use the term, behind supposedly abstract shapes and designs. Did you ever wonder about the significance of the Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen logos or the three diamonds of the Mitsubishi symbol? Would world history have been different if the Nazi swastika had pointed the other way? These and many other questions of similar nature are knowledgeably and enjoyably explored in this very impressive book.

38 people found this helpful

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Nice Overview

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 9, 2008

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It's been mentioned that this book isn't up to date, but I'm okay with that. It covers the truly significant symbols, i.e. the ones that have stood the test of time (with only a few rather quaint exceptions). The organization takes a little getting used to, but does get down to business once you give it a little attention. As for bias, there is some, but the author makes an admirable effort at keeping the information as general as possible. Anyone seeking a purely objective viewpoint really shouldn't be looking into this subject anyway.

3 people found this helpful

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virpi wallenius

Wow!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 11, 2013

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What can I say... If there is a more informative and a better categorized book on symbols I'd sure like to see it! This book has thousands of symbols that are categorized so that they are fast and easy to find using the author's indexes. Symbols vary from modern to ancient, and from informative symbols to symbols used to reveal hidden information. This book has it all: cabbalistic symbols, alchemist symbols, freemasons'symbols, ancient, medieval... You name it, you'll find it! A must for anyone interested in symbols. This book really makes you look around you with very new pair of eyes and see the world like a real life Da Vinci's Code.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 28, 2010

Verified Purchase

This dictionary is arranged by symbol, rather than alphabetically, making it fairly easy to puzzle out a symbol you don't know.
I owned this years ago and gave it to a friend. As soon as I saw it I bought it again. If you saw a symbol somewhere and did not know what it was, I'd grab this book. I Also use it to spark my imagination. I love looking through the explanation of what each symbol is. from the signs hoboes write on peoples houses, to meterological symbols, to alchemy.

2 people found this helpful

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RacketRoller

Best

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

My fave of all the symbol books

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Paul M. Jarosch

Not comprehensive, but good reference.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 26, 2013

Verified Purchase

I bought this on a whim to help me come up with designs for a ficational race's symbol so it would be unique and not unintentionaly offend someone. It was a good choice. I just wish there were mopre symbols!

One person found this helpful

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