Iconicity

Iconicity is the quality of a word or symbol that makes it resemble or represent what it stands for, making its meaning somewhat intuitive. For example, a picture of a tree is iconic because it visually resembles an actual tree, helping you understand its meaning quickly. In language, some words or signs are iconic when their form reflects their meaning, like onomatopoeic words such as "buzz" or "clang." Iconicity helps us connect symbols to their referents more easily, bridging the gap between the sign and the thing it signifies.