From cave drawings to emojis: Communication comes full circle | Marcel Danesi | TEDxToronto

On October 27, 2016, some of Toronto’s greatest thinkers and change-makers joined together onstage at TEDxToronto to deliver powerful talks and performances that embodied our theme, Symbols + Signals.


Marcel Danesi is Professor of Semiotics and Anthropology at the University of Toronto, and has been teaching since 1972. He is passionate about the study of customs, signs & symbols (aka semiotics).

An extensively published author, Marcel is known for his work in language, communications, and semiotics. He is fascinated by the meaning of popular culture, and how it informs social evolution. His work has been featured in The New York Times, the Toronto Star, and Psychology Today.

[newyork]

the pictograms of the letter A pretty amazing

[fadelmahade]

I swear there is more to human nature complexity then one can count. Indeed there’s a creater

[phy]

The super form is like the opposite of fractale : a complex motif that you cannot repeat but is more complex on the inside than the

[karlpages]

The green gun, while being a great idea, should come with a smile inclusive. We need more internationally trained linguist designing and consenting for important industry specific emojis. Definately adjudicated by international specialists and not tech companies or governments. The current emojis will evolve but does any civilised person want business having too much manipulation of a developing language at this nurturing stage?

[lovemonster]

ChatGPT used emoji with me, I'm so proud.

[Surge]

hieroglyphic were the emojis from the past

[goyonman]

It can't be called an alphabet because elements in an alphabet aren't meant to represent complete information.
Rather build up sound

[jshah]

and now we have stickers and can even make stickers on watsapp!!

[casteretpollux]

Verrry verrry confused presentation. Nonsense, really.