The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols
Emojis is the fast-growing language in the world, attracting viewers and has a great impact on their minds. This research aims at exploring how the use of emoticons leads to the emergence of a new universal language preferred by youth, thus, inviting a shift from words to other symbols. This study is proceeding from a quantitative survey analysis of the international students at Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus. A questionnaire was designed to conduct a survey and to collect data for this study. The relationship is measured by using a statistical correlation test. For the sample, 100 hundred students from different departments of the university were randomly selected. A proportionate sampling method of sampling technique was used to collect the data. It was found that social media has provided a platform for the use of emojis that not only makes communication easy and more user friendly but also adds to understanding in different age groups.
-
Emojis use, Communication Context, Emoticons, Symbols, University Students
-
(1) Liaqat Iqbal
Assistant Professor, Department of English, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
(2) Farhad Safi
Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
(3) Irfan Ullah
Assistant Professor, Department of English, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
- Baker, L. (2015). How many words is a picture worth? Integrating visual literacy in language learning with photographs. English Teaching Forum. Retrieved Mach 31, 2017, from American English: https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/lottie_baker_how_many_w ords_is_a_picture_worth.pdf
- Dresner, E. and Herring, S. C. (2010). Functions of the Non-Verbal in CMC: Emoticons and Illocutionary Force. Communication Theory. Retrieved March 24, 2017, from http://info.ils.indiana.edu/~herring/emoticons.pdf
- Hatt, G. A. (1952). Methods in social research. New York: McGraw Hill book Co. int.
- Seiter, C. (2015). The psychology of emojis. TNW. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from News: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/06/23/the-psychology-of-emojis/
- SitiHaminStapa, A. H. (2012). Understanding online communicative language features in social networking environment. GEMA: Online Journal of Language Studies, 817-830.
- Vilnai-Yavetz, I. (2015). A picture is worth a thousand words: Segmenting consumers by Facebook profile images. Journal of Interactive Marketing , 53-69.
- wyzowl .(n.d.). The power of visual communication innforgraphic. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from https://www.wyzowl.com/infographic-the-power-of-visual- communication.html
- Fizz, R. (2013, June 11). The big picture: using images in social media: Guidelines for social media success. MIT News. Retrieved August 20, 2016, from MIT News: http://news.mit.edu/2013/the-big-picture-using-images-in-social-media
- Seiter, C. (2015, January 20). 7 Reasons to Use Emoticons in Your Writing and Social Media, According to Science. Buffer Social. Retrieved August 29, 2016, from https://blog.bufferapp.com/7-reasons-use-emoticons-writing-social-media- according-science
- Dunlap, J. C. (2015, February 3). Patricklowenthal. Retrieved March 26, 2017, from patricklowenthal: http://patricklowenthal.com/publications/preprint-- A_literature_review_on_the_use_of_emoticons_to_support_online_learning.pdf
- Jones, J. (2015, May 31). Emoji is dragging us back to the dark ages - and all we can do is smile. The Guardian. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/may/27/emoji- language-dragging-us-back-to-the-dark-ages-yellow-smiley-face
- Shaul, B. (2015, September 30). Report: 92 & of Online Consumers Use Emoji (Infographic). SocialTimes. Retrieved August 22, 2016, from http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/report-92-of-online-consumers-use-emoji- infographic/627521
- Wigmore, I. (2015, October). Emoji. Whatls.com. Retrieved August 20, 2016, from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/emoji
- Cohn, N. (2015, October 13). Will emoji become a new language? Future. Retrieved August 22, 2016, from BBC: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20151012-will-emoji-become-a-new- language
- Read, A. (2016, January 19). The deeper meaning of emojis: What you need to know on how social media is changing communication. Buffer Social. Retrieved August 26, 2016, from buffer app: https://blog.bufferapp.com/social-media-language
- Morrison, K. (2016, January 29). This is Why you should use emojis to boost engagement on social media ads. Mediaweek. Retrieved August 23, 2016, from SocialTimes: http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/this-is-why-you-should-use-emojis-to-boost- engagement-on-social-media-ads/633503
- E-Marketers . (2016, March 1). E Marketers. Retrieved August 23, 2016, from we are hiring: Socialbakers analyzed the top 500 brands on Facebook and Twitter from October 2014 through December 2014, and compared emoji use in posts on the social network then vs. the same period in 2015.
- Ip, A. (n.d.). August 29, 2016, from http://www.amysmile.com/doc/emoticon_paper.pdf
Cite this article
-
APA : Iqbal, L., Safi, F., & Ullah, I. (2020). The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols. Global Mass Communication Review, V(III), 124-135. https://doi.org/10.31703/gmcr.2020(V-III).10
-
CHICAGO : Iqbal, Liaqat, Farhad Safi, and Irfan Ullah. 2020. "The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols." Global Mass Communication Review, V (III): 124-135 doi: 10.31703/gmcr.2020(V-III).10
-
HARVARD : IQBAL, L., SAFI, F. & ULLAH, I. 2020. The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols. Global Mass Communication Review, V, 124-135.
-
MHRA : Iqbal, Liaqat, Farhad Safi, and Irfan Ullah. 2020. "The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols." Global Mass Communication Review, V: 124-135
-
MLA : Iqbal, Liaqat, Farhad Safi, and Irfan Ullah. "The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols." Global Mass Communication Review, V.III (2020): 124-135 Print.
-
OXFORD : Iqbal, Liaqat, Safi, Farhad, and Ullah, Irfan (2020), "The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols", Global Mass Communication Review, V (III), 124-135
-
TURABIAN : Iqbal, Liaqat, Farhad Safi, and Irfan Ullah. "The Use of Symbols (Emoticons) in Social Media: A Shift of Language from Words to Symbols." Global Mass Communication Review V, no. III (2020): 124-135. https://doi.org/10.31703/gmcr.2020(V-III).10