Bite-Size Semiotics

A no smoking sign on the interior side of the boundary fence

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This sign was found inside of the parking lot of a small grocery store in Espoo, Finland. The sign itself is a classical "No smoking"1 sign with a silhouette of a smoking cigarette superimposed with the classical red slashed circle "NO" symbol. But the particular location was very interesting!

Walls and fences form natural boundaries that can also serve as auxiliary indexes for signs, defining an area where a sign is in effect. What I found interesting in the pictured "No smoking" sign was that it was attached to the interior side of the wall in question.

On the one hand, this is a natural place, as people might want to scoot towards the boundary of a yard for a smoke. This sign then informs them that they need to completely vacate the area before lighting up. On the other hand, it is much more common (based on my own anecdotal experience) that when signs and fences work in conjunction the signs are placed on the outside of the fence and place extra regulations to the region that the fence surrounds. "No dogs allowed", "Private property" or "Dog play area" being the base examples that immediately spring to mind.


  1. Lit. Smokeless area