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Most countries have now replaced pictorial signposts with written signs, because the number of people who can't read is rapidly diminishing.According to the answer this means that written signs were replaced by pictorial signposts, i.e. written signs were removed. Shouldn't the structure of this sentence be tre opposite? I mean shouldn't it be the signes that were replaced with(by) signposts (considering the wanred meaning)?to replace A with B = to replace A by B = to put B instea of A -- isn't this right?Thank you

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

The word 'signpost' is not good here, 'sign' is better.

to replace A with B = to replace A by B = to put B instea of A -- isn't this right? Yes

According to the answer this means that written signs were replaced by pictorial signposts The answer is wrong.

I'm not sure I agree with what is being said here. On highways, the trend is the opposite, to replace writing by pictorial symbols. And in various other places, too. Consider washroom doors.

Best wishes, Clive

Davkett · Answer

Actually, Clive, I think 'signpost' has a narrower reference than 'sign'. 'Signpost' is more normally associated with 'directional signs', which the statement seems to have in mind.

I'm curious, Maverick, about the source of the wrong 'answer'.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I read the original sentence as a rather general statement. Perhaps it refers to directional signs, but I don't see that in the sentence as written.

I use and hear the word 'sign' all the time, for traffic and for many other situations, but much less often 'signpost'. Google gives many, many more hits for 'sign', although of course the word also has many more meanings.

To me, a signpost refers to a sign on a post, or more narrowly the post that you put a sign on. I see the word as becoming rather redundant, in an age when many of the important signs, particularly directions for traffic, are 'overhead' and don't even have a post.

The original sentence spoke of both 'signpost' and 'sign'. I suggest that the use of only one or the other would provide better balance to the sentence.

Best wishes, Clive

Davkett · Answer

Clive,

I have pretty much the same reservations as you on the term 'signpost'. Probably 'directional signage' might have been a better choice. Though there is not a lot of context in the quoted sentence, the idea that most countries are making the change because of increased literacy, seems a pretty strong suggestion of what category of signage is involved. I wouldn't think highway billboards, for instance, would be affected by the change, or other examples of advertisement.

Eimai_Anglos · Answer

In the UK, literacy seems to be decreasing to the point where even a  picture won't do. People expect a video demonstration of every ****  thing!

Davkett · Answer

I share the sentiments of both Clive and Eimai Anglos on the status of public literacy.  Where do you think the sentence in question originated?

Tallulah Tam · Answer

Signposts: There are plenty of them around, (signs on posts). They are certainly not going to be made redundant in rural areas otherwise we would never know which way to turn!

Pictorial signs have nothing to do with literacy they were introduced for foreigners who cannot speak the native language. A picture of rock falling on a road as a warning sign is understood by anyone who can see it whether in Yosemite or Timbuktu. Or a picture of a car skidding, in London, Paris, or Rome. Likewise, flashing walking signs to accompany the WALK - DON'T WALK signs.

One meaning of the word sign is "to write" and one meaning of the word post is "to announce" (by putting up a notice) so a signpost is posting a sign. Sign and signpost are interchangable. A signpost can be a written sign or a picture giving you a sign.

Miriam · Answer

Maverick88Most countries have now replaced pictorial signposts with written signs, because the number of people who can't read is rapidly diminishing.

According to the answer this means that written signs were replaced by pictorial signposts, i.e. written signs were removed. Shouldn't the structure of this sentence be tre opposite? I mean shouldn't it be the signes that were replaced with(by) signposts (considering the wanred meaning)?

to replace A with B = to replace A by B = to put B instea of A -- isn't this right?

Thank you

Hello, Maverick.

You say that replacing A with B is the same as replacing A by B, which ~~in turn~~ is the same as placing B where A used to be. This is correct.

So, let's have a look at your sentence about signposts again, and let's consider signposts to be "A" and written signs to be "B". In the sentence, B has come to replace A, so now most countries have written signs where they used to have pictorial signposts (the pictorial signposts have been removed because, these days, there are more people who can read). The sentence makes sense. I hope this post does, too.

Miriam

Davkett · Answer

Tallulah Tamis understood by anyone who can see it .

I just don't have the same faith in pictorial signage as you do. The images on these pictorial traffic signs are highly stylized and can easily be confusing to non-native visitors unfamiliar with them.

Though it is off the point of the grammatical status of the sentence in question, there is an interesting issue here that points to the problem of language. Not even the languages of art and music can claim to be understood by everyone.

There there is the obvious situation here in Maverick's post where someone has given a wrong 'answer' to a correctly written sentence.

Maverick88 · Answer

Hey all and thanks for the replies.

The question was taken from a book with which I prepare for the upcoming SAT test I'm going to have in a month.

Hello Miriam,

(the pictorial signposts have been removed because, these days, there are more people who can read)

I got it...I think it's my usual inattentiveness

I somehow inferred that number of people who DO read is diminishing so there would be no sense in replacing signposts with written signs..

Thanks all again

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