Canoeing

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Canoe, Kayaking, Kayak

Category

Sports, Water Based Activities, Water Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Leisure Activities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to signify the activity of canoeing/kayaking, and to indicate a location where canoeing/kayaking is permitted

	Source	Description
	Pierce	Side view of front part of a canoe with human figure, water shown as wavy line
	Parks Canada	Side view of front part of a canoe, human figure with single-bladed paddle, water shown as wavy line
	SIS	Side view of human figure in canoe, water shown as two wavy lines
	Nova Scotia	Side view of canoe in water shown as three wavy lines
	O'72	Side view of human figure with single-bladed paddle above horizontal line
	O'24	Plan view of canoe with single-bladed paddle, several parallel wavy lines, two dashed lines

Canoeing/Kayaking: Double-bladed Paddle

	Peru MST	Side view of front part of a canoe, human figure with double-bladed paddle, water shown as two wavy lines
	GSR Portugal	Side view of front part of a canoe, human figure with double-bladed paddle
	Peru 2016	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as two wavy lines
	NZS 8603	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as two wavy lines
	O'80	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as wavy contour
	Dutchicon	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as wavy line
	Ecuador	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as two wavy lines
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as two wavy lines
	CNIS	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as two wavy lines
	DER	Side view of a human figure kayaking, water shown as two wavy lines
	O'72	Side view of human figure with double-bladed paddle sitting on horizontal line, five wavy lines below
	Aragón	Side view of human figure with double-bladed paddle sitting on horizontal line, wavy line below
	O'64	Side view of human figure with double-bladed paddle sitting on horizontal line
	UKFC	Human figure with double-bladed paddle sitting in kayak
	Parks Canada	Plan view of kayak with double-bladed paddle
	O'24	Plan view of kayak with double-bladed paddle, several parallel lines
	O'68	Double-bladed paddle plus water shown as three wavy lines

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

While the original activity of Canoeing involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle only, in some regions also Kayaking is subsumed when using the term Canoeing: 'In British English, the kayak is considered to be a kind of canoe. While technically understandable, in the North American sense this is not the case' (Wikipedia, 2023-12-19). The collection above reflects this consolidation, as several pictograms found for Canoeing in fact are renderings of a kayak or a person kayaking. To keep these different kinds of acivities separate, we have split the table accordingly.

In our research we discovered that there is only very limited test data available for the referent Canoeing:

Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol showing a side view of a human figure kayaking and water shown as wavy line similar to the Brazilian traffic sign labeled as DER in the table above, using a Comprehension Test conducted in Brazil. Only 47.8 % of the responses were classified as correct. Among the 38.5 % wrong answers interpretations like Fishing, Rowing, Windsurfing, Yachting, and Regatta were found. We assume that some of the responses were done quickly and did not express the meaning in an exact manner, so real comprehension rate should probably be significantly higher.

Recommendations

Due to the limited data available and insufficient knowledge of relevant factors, we recommend conducting an exact analysis of the communication needs and possible user groups of this information. On such a basis research using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure and Comprehension Tests will deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs.

Tests of pictograms of referent Canoeing

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.