Funny sounds that represent symbols on road signs

[bandit957]

Did anyone else ever invent sounds to represent the symbols on road signs? In my day, I came up with a sound to represent a curve warning sign. The sound was sort of like a meow, but not exactly.

When I was maybe 8 or 9, I came up with a sound to represent road signs in general, which was used to preface a mention of road signs. It sounded sort of like a bird call.

Maybe sometime soon I'll make a video with these sounds.

[Pete from Boston]

Yes.  Victor Borge. 

[OracleUsr]

Yes, actually I did.  I called the Merging Traffic symbol "ittook" (short i, then "took")

Never did figure out why.  Mystified my parents too.

[vtk]

Synaesthesia much?

[hbelkins]

Did anyone else ever invent sounds to represent the symbols on road signs?

No.

[roadman]

Didn't need to.  When I was old enough to start noticing road signs (age of 3), all most of the signs were still text.

[theline]

^^ Same for me too, except for the right curve and left curve signs, which were arrows. I drove my Dad crazy reading every sign out loud, as soon as I learned to read. The curve signs were read as "left curve" and "right curve." Other signs I'd read like "32 goes left and right" and "speed limit 65." I never thought of making up sounds.

[roadman]

Your comment on curve signs reminds me of trips in the mid-1960s up NH 106 to my uncle's house on Lake Winnisquam outside of Laconia.  At that time, it was one of the curviest roads I'd ever ridden on.

[bandit957]

I think it was mostly from road signs that I learned how to read. That plus 'Sesame Street' and 'The Electric Company'.

I remember learning how to read that "BRIDGES FREEZE BEFORE ROADWAYS" sign on the US 27 viaduct in Highland Heights.

[theline]

Your comment on curve signs reminds me of trips in the mid-1960s up NH 106 to my uncle's house on Lake Winnisquam outside of Laconia.  At that time, it was one of the curviest roads I'd ever ridden on.

That sign stumped me when I was little, and I tried to describe each curve on the sign, "turn left, then right, then left, then right," but it didn't exactly match reality. I was told that it was just "winding road." Dad was patient, rest his soul.

[PColumbus73]

I never made up sounds for road signs, but I do remember reading road signs aloud when I was young. I think my parents were impressed at first, but grew tired of it on long trips, haha.

[roadman]

I think it was mostly from road signs that I learned how to read. That plus 'Sesame Street' and 'The Electric Company'.

I remember learning how to read that "BRIDGES FREEZE BEFORE ROADWAYS" sign on the US 27 viaduct in Highland Heights.

I had pretty much mastered basic reading skills by the time I turned three, mainly by reading road signs.  A family story is how my oldest sister's college roommate came to visit and was in absolute shock and awe to see a four year old (me) reading a newspaper aloud.

By third grade, I was permitted to check out books on certain subjects (mostly about bridges and trains) from the "Adult" section of our branch library because I had already read all the books on those subjects that were in the "Children's" section.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I've always associated road signs with facial expressions since I was young.

[bandit957]

I've always associated road signs with facial expressions since I was young.

I think this is common. In my day, there were several varieties of the KY 1120 marker seen locally. The size and width of the font for each variety was associated with certain personalities. Often, the number 1120 inside the circle used a small font, which was associated with more of a quiet type. But there were several KY 1120 signs where the digits used a tall, very skinny font, which represented more of an uptight personality. (All of this was before there were many KY 1120 markers using the wider shield. I don't think there's any remaining that use the circular shield, though one or two probably lasted into the 2000s.)

Whoever designed the signs probably didn't think about these things before they acted.

[US81]

My father and I would occasionally invent sound effects for non-standard curve signs. Long sweeping curves might be a long vowel sequence, "aaaaoooouuu" and tight hairpin curves tended to "fwoop" or "sploop."

[roadfro]

I've always associated road signs with facial expressions since I was young.

Similarly, I often associated the sections of a traffic signal with similar expressions/emotions: green = happy, yellow = worried/"uh-oh", red = angry/mad

[PColumbus73]

Okay... did/does anyone else do this when approaching a traffic light?

Green! (Say it quick, with a slightly high-pitch inflection)

YELLOOOOOOW! (Drag it out for about the same as the yellow phase)

_red. (Immediately after the yellow, saying it quick again with out any inflection)

[Pete from Boston]

Okay... did/does anyone else do this when approaching a traffic light?

Green! (Say it quick, with a slightly high-pitch inflection)

YELLOOOOOOW! (Drag it out for about the same as the yellow phase)

_red. (Immediately after the yellow, saying it quick again with out any inflection)

Doesn't everyone?

[US71]

Yes.  Victor Borge. 

[BamaZeus]

I've always associated road signs with facial expressions since I was young.

Similarly, I often associated the sections of a traffic signal with similar expressions/emotions: green = happy, yellow = worried/"uh-oh", red = angry/mad

I thought I was the only one who did that.  When I was maybe 5 or 6, the red light was an eye staring at me in disapproval, to not pass it.  The yellow light was a nose to me expressing caution, like someone about to sneeze.  The green light was like a mouth smiling to me, telling me it was ok to continue.

[Pete from Boston]

I've always associated road signs with facial expressions since I was young.

Similarly, I often associated the sections of a traffic signal with similar expressions/emotions: green = happy, yellow = worried/"uh-oh", red = angry/mad

I thought I was the only one who did that.  When I was maybe 5 or 6, the red light was an eye staring at me in disapproval, to not pass it.  The yellow light was a nose to me expressing caution, like someone about to sneeze.  The green light was like a mouth smiling to me, telling me it was ok to continue.

Cars are not smiling at you.

[hbelkins]

Okay... did/does anyone else do this when approaching a traffic light?

Green! (Say it quick, with a slightly high-pitch inflection)

YELLOOOOOOW! (Drag it out for about the same as the yellow phase)

_red. (Immediately after the yellow, saying it quick again with out any inflection)

Doesn't everyone?

No.

[Tom958]

The famed Ludowici traffic light:

Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen, yellowred.