ABSTRACT
In today's world filled with complex signs and symbols, visual and auditory channels are the most intensive in semiotic terms. The language of smell, associated with the most ancient reactions, is usually considered as secondary and supplementary, and its possibilities for conveying meanings are limited to simple recognition. However, experts have been using the alphabet of smells to convey emotional messages from ancient times to date. The assessment of the role of odors in the modern world became possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic which often involved the loss, change or intensification of the sense of smell. In the course of the study 250 cases were considered, representing the stories associated with the disease and deviations in the perception of odors. The loss of the perception of unpleasant odors makes it impossible to learn about the dangers which cannot be perceived visually like in ancient times (spoiled food, poisoned air, etc.). Phantom interpretation of odors is often unpleasant: people can identify the smells of burning, ammonia, acetone, decomposition, feces, and others, and sometimes the excessiveness of an ordinary smell is unpleasant as well. The change of sign recognition can cause serious consequences for people. Phantom unpleasant odors can result in changes in eating habits and cause problems in communication. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
In today's world filled with complex signs and symbols, visual and auditory channels are the most intensive in semiotic terms. The language of smell, associated with the most ancient reactions, is usually considered as secondary and supplementary, and its possibilities for conveying meanings are limited to simple recognition. However, experts have been using the alphabet of smells to convey emotional messages from ancient times to date. The assessment of the role of odors in the modern world became possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic which often involved the loss, change or intensification of the sense of smell. In the course of the study 250 cases were considered, representing the stories associated with the disease and deviations in the perception of odors. The loss of the perception of unpleasant odors makes it impossible to learn about the dangers which cannot be perceived visually like in ancient times (spoiled food, poisoned air, etc.). Phantom interpretation of odors is often unpleasant: people can identify the smells of burning, ammonia, acetone, decomposition, feces, and others, and sometimes the excessiveness of an ordinary smell is unpleasant as well. The change of sign recognition can cause serious consequences for people. Phantom unpleasant odors can result in changes in eating habits and cause problems in communication. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.