Which statement best describes opaque symbols?

• A. They have meaning that can be guessed based on shape.
• B. They are always easy to learn.
• C. There is no relationship between symbol and referent and they must be learned.
• D. They are always intuitive.

Answer: (C)

Opaque symbols have no obvious link between their form and what they refer to, so you can’t infer meaning from appearance alone. The association between the symbol and its referent must be learned through convention or instruction. This is why the statement that there is no relationship and that the meaning must be learned best captures what opaque symbols are. If a symbol were easy to guess from its shape or felt intuitive, it would be more like a transparent or iconic sign, not an opaque one.