From the Latin "vexillum" comes the term for the study of flags, vexillology, a discipline that lies within the scope of both heraldry and semiotics. Heraldry is a much broader field relating to the design, presentation, description, and record-keeping of coats of arms. Semiotics is also a much wider area of study which has at its core the systems of signs used for communication. Thus the elements of battle and the arming of tribes and nations join the human propensity to communicate through a range of means. These two areas of study converge in a fascinating way in the dynamic field of vexillology. In general, vexillologists are experts on historic flags and on the best elements of flag design. According to Ted Kaye, author of Good Flag, Bad Flag, five principles can be applied to flag design. These principles are endorsed by the North American Vexillogical Association and are as follows:
Simplicity: a child should be able to draw the flag from memory
Relevance: all elements should relate to what the flag symbolizes
Limited colors: no more than three, as is seen in historic US flags, with contrasting tones
No text: and no seal either
Originality: don't copy but make subtle connections
There are different types of flags: national, ensign, rank and signal are some examples. The national flag, such as the American flag, symbolizes, of course, a nation. There are many historic flags that were made to assert a nation's independence or strength. A ship uses an ensign flag to signify the type of vessel it is. Many historic US flags from ships fascinate vexillologists and historians for the role they played in battles or other historically significant events. The head of state of a country or a high-level officer in a branch of the armed forces will make use of a rank flag. And, finally, messages between ships or between ship and shore, are sent with signal flags.
