Language is more than just words, it’s a form of understanding and a concept. You associate pictures with words and understand what they mean, it’s things humans do everyday. What mainly distinguishes a language proper from other forms of communication would be the way words are used. In every language, words are used differently and that’s because every language is different. What doesn’t change however, would be the way symbols and icons are used to relate to other images. In the Ferdinand de Sausurre reading, he states, “The symbol of justice, a pair of scales, could not be replaced by just any other symbol, such as a chariot.” It’s easier for us to understand symbols because it’s a visual representation and nothing else. Which means when it comes to language, symbols and icons are international, anyone can understand it. 

Signs, signifiers, and the signified are all employed in general communication because they help when it comes to understanding a situation or topic. It’ll always be there, same with graphic communication. With graphic communication, designs will have symbols or signs that people might not know. This is when common sense will be needed to breakdown the understanding. Moving on, language shapes design by the way the designer uses it. Like Sausurre said before, “we regard the words of our language as a soundimage, we must avoid speaking of the ‘phonemes’ that make up the words”. Because we use images to describe words, our language becomes international and anybody will be able to understand it. That’s why Sausurre is so focused on making people use soundimages instead of actual words that might confuse other people. 

What design does that language can’t is having an easier understanding. In the three essays from, J. Abbot Miller and Ellen Lupton, we see a bunch of symbols and signs throughout the reading. Oddly enough, it actually helps get the writer’s point across. Having a visual representation of what you’re writing will always benefit readers. Another thing that design does that language can’t is understanding. People will be able to understand design more than a language because a design can be seen rather than having to be read. In today’s culture however, language and design are related to one another by signs you see on the street everyday, they help you better understand what’s going on and what you should or should not do. For example, the mask guideline signs on the MTA because they let you know what you need to do and it’s a simple explanation. Easy signs and ads easily have language and design working together.