kuvakieli

Kuvakieli, meaning picture language in Finnish, refers to a system of communication that relies on pictures, symbols, or icons to convey meaning. It is commonly used as part of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for people who have limited or no functional spoken language. Kuvakieli is not a natural language with its own grammar; rather it is a set of visual representations that users learn to interpret and combine to express thoughts, needs, and ideas. It can be used alone or together with speech, sign language, or written text.

There are several approaches and symbol sets within kuvakieli. Blissymbolics, created by Charles Bliss in the mid-20th century, is a formal pictorial language intended to be culturally neutral and cover a broad range of concepts. PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) focuses on teaching functional communication through exchanging pictures. Makaton combines simplified signs, spoken language, and a limited set of symbols, primarily used for children with communication difficulties. In everyday settings, standardized pictograms and user-generated symbol boards are common for instruction, schedules, and navigation.

Kuvakieli supports language development, literacy, and independence for individuals who are nonverbal or limited in verbal ability. It is also used to facilitate communication across language barriers and to support accessibility in education and public information. Limitations include the need for training, potential symbol ambiguity, and cultural differences in symbol interpretation.