Is Emoji a Universal Language?

Ozioma J., Okey-Kalu

English Unit, General Studies Department, Federal School of Statistics, Enugu

ORCID – 0009-0009-3671-4834

Okechukwu, Okorie

English Unit, General Studies Department, Federal School of Statistics, Manchok, Kaduna

Nneka U., Nweke

English Unit, General Studies Department, Federal School of Statistics, Enugu

Abstract

The invention of the internet and digital communication channels has made it possible for people in different parts of the world to interact without geographic restrictions. Nevertheless, people from different speech communities may encounter communication barriers as a result of their language differences. The invention of emojis, which are perceived as a universal language, is believed to bridge the communication gap between individuals of different languages. To find out how effective emojis are in communication, the findings of four empirical studies, which investigated the use of emojis in communication, were collected and analysed qualitatively. The present study was anchored on Sonja Foss’s Theory of Visual Rhetoric, which posits that visuals must communicate effectively and accurately to their audience before they can be identified and described as communicative. The findings of this study, however, showed that while emojis can trigger the emotions of readers, they may fail to communicate effectively to them. Based on these findings, it was concluded that emojis may not be an effective tool in cross border interactions.

Keywords: Emojis, cross boarder communication, visual rhetoric. 

Impact Statement

Emojis are tiny images used in digital communication platforms, such as social media, emails, and short message services (SMS). People from different cultures use them to exchange messages. In most cases, these communication participants fail to consider the cultural background of other parties in the communication event. This means they may use emojis to deliver messages that have different meanings to different individuals as a result of what the concept represented by the image means in different cultures. After examining the findings of four research works, which studied the use and interpretation of emojis, this study has affirmed that messages delivered with emojis can deliver different meanings to different individuals as a result of their socio-cultural backgrounds and experiences. As a result, it concludes that emojis are not universal language because their meanings are conventional and affected by context. 

About Author/s

Ozioma J. Okey-Kalu

Ozioma J. Okey-Kalu is a staff of the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria, but she serves the country as a lecturer of English at Federal School of Statistics, Enugu, Nigeria. She is currently studying her doctorate degree in English at University of Nigeria Nsukka. Her research interests include Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Rhetoric, and Semiotics. 

Okechukwu Okorie

Okechukwu Okorie is a staff of National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria, who also serves as a lecturer of English at Federal School of Statistics, Manchok, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He is also studying his doctorate degree in English at University of Nigeria Nsukka. His research interests are phonetics and phonology of the English language. 

Nneka U. Nweke

Nneka Nweke is also a staff of National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria, who serve as a lecturer of English at Federal School of Statistics, Enugu, Nigeria. She has research interest in teaching and learning English as a second language.

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