It’s an Inside Out kind of thing. Symbolism It’s an Inside Out kind of thing.

What is symbolism? Symbolism allows people to communicate beyond the limits of language. Humans use symbolism all the time. Words themselves are mere symbols for something else. A symbol is a person, place, or object that stands for something beyond itself.

Activity Instructions Make a list of some of the symbols encountered in everyday life, for example: a green light tells you it is your turn to go a bell may signal the beginning of the school day a gold cross on a necklace suggests the wearer is a Christian You should have at least 10 per person in your group.

Step 2 Classify the examples collected using the headings: visual written music and sound effects non-verbal verbal Ensure that there are several examples for each of these headings.

Step 3 On your own Give me a list of the following: symbols with changing meanings symbols with universal meanings For instance, in one culture the idea of mourning is conveyed by the color black and in another by its opposite — white.

Step 4 Now, with your group, brainstorm a list of words and phrases used every day, but that are not a part of standard English speech. They may be examples from your own speech, your parents' or from younger siblings. The terms 'unreal', 'groovy' and 'bad vibes' were used in the sixties and seventies. The group selects twenty examples and arranges them alphabetically.

Step 5 Now choose 5 of the phrases from your list and together with your group come up with their meaning in standard English. In other words, do NOT create a meaning using the word or other slang words to describe it. Also, tell my how and why this word or phrase has gained its meaning today.

Let’s put our understanding of symbolism to work