The Language of a Uniform
Historically, uniforms around the world have served to identify not only where an individual came from but also the role they performed. Over time, they also acquired additional layers of meaning, signaling social status and, in some cases, aspects of personal identity.
Rank
One of the most common features of a military uniform is some indication of a personโs rank. In the past, this may have been achieved through specific clothing features or even colors. Take the Roman army, for instance. While lower-ranking legionaries (foot soldiers) wore red or brown, centurions (officers) could be identified by their ornate tunics with more complex patterns. They may have been wearing a paludamentum, or a short cape fastened over one shoulder.
Even further above the centurions, imperial guardsmen boasted the most complex and detailed armor. Its gold color signified their place above the rest, having achieved some level of notoriety.
Role
A personโs rank within the military is just one aspect of their overall station. Their role describes the exact function of their task, and this too is often encapsulated within a uniform.
Returning to ancient Rome, people could expect to identify an individualโs role quicklyโnot just because those people were proud of their positions, but because fast identification was essential for survival on the battlefield. A standard bearer was most easily identified by the large flags they carried, but also by the animal skins โ wolves, bears, and even lions โ worn on their helmets.
Conversely, a person who protected the emperor directly (i.e., a Praetorian) often sported complex, beautiful crests on their helmets and long cloaks made of high-quality material in rich colors.
Social status
The Roman military was stratified along both functional and social lines. For instance, only Roman citizens could serve in legions. All others served in the auxilia, which immediately placed them in a less socially favored position. Visual distinctions included legionaries wearing higher-quality armor and red tunics, while auxilia were relegated to lesser armor (e.g., chain instead of plate) or none at all.
More Covert Communicative Functions
Military uniforms carry an overt style of communication: rank, role, social hierarchy, and more. A viewer could actively interpret these signals to understand key aspects of the individual, their role in society and the military, as well as the rights, protections, and expectations afforded to them. However, uniforms can also serve more covert functions. This is why, for instance, a member of the public may feel compelled to behave more properly or stay quiet around a military officer, even if they are otherwise kind and friendly. This was just as true in the past as it is today.
Color psychology
One contributing factor to the subconscious role that military uniforms can play is the very colors they feature. Color psychology is the field of study that examines how colors influence a personโs perception. Research indicates that colors may affect how someone thinks, feels, or even behaves.
In sticking with the Roman example, red remained a dominant color for a reason. Red is associated with vigor, aggression, and intensity, making it an ideal external influence for the Romans to impose upon their enemies. However, depending on the uniform, purple and gold were also common. These shades were much more difficult to acquire at that time, immediately creating an impression of wealth, austerity, and power that went far beyond the physical.
Shapes and lines
Did you know that people often make non-arbitrary but abstract associations between shapes and how they feel? The Bouba-Kiki effect, for instance, details how most people will use words like โsharpโ or โspikyโ to describe the word Kiki, while Bouba is described as โsoftโ or โround.โ The subconscious awareness of shapes, textures, and how they make us feel is ingrained in the human brain.
This also functions in the military. The large, rectangular shields (called scutum) that were part of a soldierโs uniform were made of strong, hard, straight lines that conveyed a sense of impossibility and attention; this was a hardy soldier with high levels of discipline and a sturdy presence impossible to overcome. Uniforms made of sharp, clean, or crisp lines conveyed a sense of wartime professionalism โ that this army was prepared, focused, and ready to act upon a momentโs notice.
Is Clothing Really a Language?
Yes, military uniforms can speak extensively to the goals of an army, its organization, and the functions of its individual members, but is that really a language? Language is all about communication, and when it comes to making both overt and subconscious statements, military uniforms excel. The militias of the past demonstrate an awareness of these features just as modern military forces utilize them to shape narratives for their own purposes.
