how do you perceive or intepret signs in a shopping mall?

Question

examples will include human icons and symbols or fire extiguisher

Answer 1

Perhaps these web sites will shed some light on the subject for you:

http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct0606/index.php
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/amerst/Malls.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/french/as-sa/EngSem1.html

Answer 2

by knowing it already only ... with prior experiance only..