ETHNIC GROUPS AND MINORITIES (30522.B2): SYMBOLS IN COMMUNICATION

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Symbols in communication

The social-cognitive functions of symbols may be broken down into two main categories: representation and communication. Symbols are picked up in social contexts and then utilized to further one's comprehension of their surroundings and communicate that comprehension to others. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the hand gesture for "okay" and the motions of Pepe the Frog, both ubiquitous means of nonverbal communication, have lately been exploited to convey hatred. Depending on the person who uses them and how they understand them, a symbol might mean anything from one thing to another. For instance, it was formerly thought that the "OK" sign meant "all is okay." These days, however, most people consider it a symbol of bigotry (Allyn, 2019).

After hearing about it in the news, I learned about Pepe the Frog and the Anti-Defamation League's designation of the OK...