tekens

Tekens, in Dutch, refers to signs, marks, or symbols used to convey information. The term covers a wide range of objects, including letters and punctuation in writing, diacritical marks, mathematical and scientific symbols, currency signs, and non-verbal indicators such as traffic signs. In Dutch, Tekens can function as building blocks of language, notation, and graphical communication.

In semiotics and linguistics, a teken is a sign that links a form, or signifier, with a concept, the signified. The study of tekens examines how meanings are produced through systems of signs, codes, and conventions within cultures and communities.

In typography and computing, tekens are counted as characters. Text processing relies on encoding schemes such as Unicode to map tekens to byte representations that can be stored, rendered, and transmitted. This allows consistent rendering across devices and languages.

Common examples of tekens include punctuation marks (period, comma, question mark, exclamation mark), diacritical marks (acute, umlaut), mathematical and scientific symbols (+, -, ∑, Ω), currency signs ($, €, £), and control symbols used in computing (newline, tab).

Historically, tekens emerged as ways to record speech, count, and regulate social life (signage, seals, tokens). Over time, standardized writing systems and digital encodings have expanded the set of tekens available and their interoperability.