What does this symbol actually mean? - Adrian Treharne

譯者: Wei Coco 審譯者: 庭芝 梁

Some of the world's most recognizable symbols exist to sell products,

世界上有許多廣為人知的符號

有些用於銷售商品

有些則用於指示交通

others to steer traffic

或是達成某些政治目的

or advance political causes.

But there's one whose main purpose is to help people.

但是有一個符號的功能 是為了協助他人

You may know it as the wheelchair symbol, or a sign for people with disabilities,

你也許知道，這是代表輪椅 或是身障人士的標誌

but its formal title as maintained by the ISO

但它在國際標準化組織 (ISO) 有個正式的名稱

is the International Symbol of Access.

「國際無障礙標誌」

But despite its familiarity,

雖然它很常見

many people are unclear as to what the symbol actually means,

但是很多人仍然不瞭解 它真正的意思

這就和符號本身 以及當初的起源有關了

which has a lot to do with the symbol itself and the way it came about.

1968 年，國際科技與無障礙設施委員會 舉辦了一場設計大賽

In 1968, the International Commission on Technology and Accessibility

held a design contest.

They were looking for a symbol

他們想要找尋一個

that would be readily identifiable from a reasonable distance,

能在遠處容易辨識

self-descriptive,

富有意義

簡單易懂

simple,

切合實用

practical,

and couldn't be confused with existing signage.

且不會與現有標誌混淆的符號

The winning design, which didn't have a head,

獲勝的設計 出自丹麥設計師蘇珊．科弗

was created by a Danish designer named Susanne Koefed.

但是當時圖樣中的小人圖像 還沒有畫上「頭」

The addition of a head a year later gave it a more human form,

一年之後，作者為它加上了頭 讓圖案看起來更為人性化

and within ten years,

接著在十年之內

it was endorsed by both the United Nations and the ISO.

這個標誌獲得聯合國 與 ISO 組織的認可

With minimal cost and minimal fuss, a global icon was born.

在最低的成本，以及最少的挑戰下 一個全球通用的標誌誕生了

There have been a few tweaks over the decades.

幾十年來它還經過一些改變

視覺藝術協會將圖案削去稜角 使它看起來更加圓融

The Graphic Artists Guild added more rounded, human-like features,

2012 年，無障礙標誌計畫 還創作了動態版的圖示

and in 2012, the Accessible Icon Project produced a more dynamic version.

But what does it really represent?

但它到底代表什麼？

What's its purpose?

它的目的又是什麼？

Put simply, it's a sign to identify where there are accessible facilities.

簡單來說，它是告訴你哪裡有 無障礙設施的標誌

這個國際公認的標誌

The strength of such an internationally recognized image

is that wherever you travel,

無論你在何處旅行，都能發揮作用

you don't need to speak the language or have in-depth cultural knowledge.

你也不需要會說當地語言 或擁有深入的文化知識

If you require an accessible toilet, the sign shows the way.

如果你需要無障礙廁所 找到這個標誌就行了

But the confusion comes from the term accessibility

但「無障礙」這個名詞 以及它代表的意思

卻也會帶來混淆

and what that actually means.

很多人認為因為圖案中有輪椅

Many people assume that because the symbol depicts a wheelchair,

that accessible facilities are meant only for people who use wheelchairs,

所以無障礙設施 僅適用於乘坐輪椅的人

or those, at the very least, who have a visible physical condition.

或者是外表可看到明顯缺陷的人

但是無障礙其實是很廣泛的概念

But accessibility is a broad concept

that applies to many, many different conditions.

適用於很多很多不同的情况

That includes people with autism,

包括自閉症患者

visual impairments,

視障人士

and autoimmune diseases,

以及自體免疫疾病患者

like lupus, which can cause pain and fatigue,

例如紅斑性狼瘡患者 他們常感覺到疼痛和疲倦

還有其他許多情況

along with many other conditions.

事實上，世界衛生組織估計

In fact, the World Health Organization estimates

that there are approximately 1 billion people

全球估計目前有 10 億人口

who experience some form of disability,

具有不同程度的身體障礙

which means that this group is very likely to include yourself,

也就是這些人之中 有可能包括你自己

or a family member,

或是你的家人

a classmate,

同學

a friend,

朋友

或同事

or a work colleague.

And people who use wheelchairs only make up about 65 million,

而其中乘坐輪椅的人 只有 6500 萬

or 15% of the total.

佔總數的 15%

The vast majority have non-visible disabilities.

大部分身障人士的外表 是看不出明顯缺陷的

然而無障礙停車格、設施、出入口等

Accessible parking spaces, facilities, and entrances

are designed with that entire group in mind.

是設計給所有需要的人使用的

So it's easy to see why in recent years people have begun to raise questions

因此很容易理解 為何近年來人們會開始質疑

這個符號是否符合它本身的意義

about whether the symbol is really appropriate for what it's meant to do.

而且還不只是準確性的問題

And it's not just about accuracy.

It's common for people to become indignant,

當那些外表看不出障礙的人

sometimes abusive,

使用無障礙設施時

when they see people without visible disabilities using accessible facilities.

人們常常會生氣 有時甚至會辱罵他們

The symbol is unfortunately creating widespread issues

無障礙標誌反而 對身障人士造成許多問題

for the very people and families it's meant to help.

但它本來是用來幫助身障人士的

The recent redesigns have attempted with some success

近年來的重新設計獲得了一些成功

to acknowledge concerns over the current symbol.

也改善了原有符號的問題

但仍有人認為標誌應該要重新設計

But some think that a complete redesign is in order.

It's a difficult task, though.

但更換談何容易

How do you replace a symbol that's familiar the world over?

你如何改變 一個已經廣為世人熟悉的符號？

And what do you replace it with?

而且又能換成什麼符號？