Hand Signs for Lip-syncing: The Emergence of a Gestural Language on Musical.ly as a Video-Based Equivalent to Emoji. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rettberg, Jill Walker
• Is Part Of: Social media + society. Volume 3:Number 4(2017:Oct./Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: emoji -- gestures -- lip-syncing -- multimodality -- video-sharing; Social media -- Periodicals; Social media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 302.231
• DOI: 10.1177/2056305117735751
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-3051

Abstract

Video-based communication is increasingly common online. This article looks at the hand signs that are used in lip-syncing videos on the app musical.ly and argues that they constitute a codified, non-verbal language of pictograms that is equivalent to emoji in text-based communication. Seeing the lip-syncing videos as performances allows us to situate the hand signs as the latest development in a long history of formalized gestures for theatrical performance. By recognizing this emergent gestural language as a performative element of online communication, we can reinterpret emoji and other forms of visual supplement to writing as part of a larger emerging system of communication where visual signs are becoming integrated into verbal language, not only in written language but also in video-based communication.