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A linguistic study of the understanding of emoticons and emojis in text messages
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Kelly, Caroline |
| Copyright Year | 2015 |
| Abstract | This study investigates the understanding of emoticons and emojis used in text messages. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a universal understanding of emoticons and emojis, which is important considering the number of people using them every day when sending text messages. Many studies have been made of communication via text messages and the usage of emoticons and emojis, but no study has focused on the interpretation of the symbols and the importance of the context. For the purposes of this study, a questionnaire was completed in an upper secondary school (Swedish gymnasium) in Stockholm, during normal school hours in November 2014, by 90 16-19 year old students. The result was then analysed through a ‘Relevance Theory’ perspective, and in the light of the works of, amongst others, Saussure, Peirce and Thomas. The result revealed that, for the interpreter of a text message, it is important that a textual context is established, in order for the interpreter to be able to understand what the emoticons or emojis used in text messages mean. The result also showed that the emoticons and emojis do not have a meaning in themselves and that they can have different meanings depending on the situation, and the mood or the person for whom the message is intended. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:783789/FULLTEXT01.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
