Functions of emojis in WhatsApp interaction among Omanis. (December 2018)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Functions of emojis in WhatsApp interaction among Omanis. (December 2018)
- Main Title:
- Functions of emojis in WhatsApp interaction among Omanis
- Authors:
- Al Rashdi, Fathiya
- Abstract:
- Highlights: The paper explores functions of emojis. The data consists of naturally-occurring WhatsApp interaction. In addition to indicating emotion, emojis can be used to serve other communicative functions. These functions are sometimes complex and overlapped. Abstract: This paper examines the functions of emojis as used by Omani men and women friends and relatives in messages exchanged on WhatsApp. The data consists of naturally occurring WhatsApp conversations taken from one male-only and one-female only WhatsApp groups. In order to determine the types of emojis used and the frequencies, I used what Herring (2004) describes as "coding and counting" in her description of computer-mediated discourses analysis. Then, I performed a qualitative analysis of selected extracts using theories and methods of interactional sociolinguistics. In line with studies such as Dresner and Herring (2010), the analysis of select, representative excerpts including various emojis demonstrates that emojis do not only serve as indicators of users' emotions, but also serve many other communicative functions. They can serve as what Gumperz (1982) calls "contextualization cues"; indication of celebration; indication of approval of others' messages; responses to expressions of thanks and compliments; conversational openings and closings; linking devices; and indication of the fulfillment of a requested task. In other words, emojis serve to create alignments between participants, structureHighlights: The paper explores functions of emojis. The data consists of naturally-occurring WhatsApp interaction. In addition to indicating emotion, emojis can be used to serve other communicative functions. These functions are sometimes complex and overlapped. Abstract: This paper examines the functions of emojis as used by Omani men and women friends and relatives in messages exchanged on WhatsApp. The data consists of naturally occurring WhatsApp conversations taken from one male-only and one-female only WhatsApp groups. In order to determine the types of emojis used and the frequencies, I used what Herring (2004) describes as "coding and counting" in her description of computer-mediated discourses analysis. Then, I performed a qualitative analysis of selected extracts using theories and methods of interactional sociolinguistics. In line with studies such as Dresner and Herring (2010), the analysis of select, representative excerpts including various emojis demonstrates that emojis do not only serve as indicators of users' emotions, but also serve many other communicative functions. They can serve as what Gumperz (1982) calls "contextualization cues"; indication of celebration; indication of approval of others' messages; responses to expressions of thanks and compliments; conversational openings and closings; linking devices; and indication of the fulfillment of a requested task. In other words, emojis serve to create alignments between participants, structure interactive exchanges, and indicate message tone. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Discourse, context & media. Volume 26(2018)
- Journal:
- Discourse, context & media
- Issue:
- Volume 26(2018)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 26, Issue 2018 (2018)
- Year:
- 2018
- Volume:
- 26
- Issue:
- 2018
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2018-0026-2018-0000
- Page Start:
- 117
- Page End:
- 126
- Publication Date:
- 2018-12
- Subjects:
- Computer-mediated discourse -- Arabic computer-mediated discourse -- Emojis -- WhatsApp
Discourse analysis -- Periodicals
Digital media -- Periodicals
Mass media and language -- Periodicals
Communication -- Periodicals
Communication
Digital media
Discourse analysis
Mass media and language
Periodicals
401.4105 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/22116958 ↗
http://www.sciencedirect.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.dcm.2018.07.001 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2211-6958
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 8543.xml