Emoticons are visually simple and can have a direct relation
to actual facial expressions. This is shown throughout the data that I have
collected, where the majority of users on this Facebook page have used
emoticons as a way of expressing how the Facebook user is feeling in accordance
to the status update, comment, post, etc. Emoticons may be the simplest method
of clarifying ton of message. An example of this would be, “moves better than
you (1)! 😂”,
this is a comment from an OFBU that has given me permission to use their data.
Having these visual cues has a very high importance in online communication as
they help to convey or enhance underlying emotional aspects of communication,
which is shown in the above quote. The laughing face emoticon indicated that
the message is supposed to be read in a funny and joke-like manner. Therefore,
this will avoid any confusion over what tone the message is meant to be intended.
If the user decided to not include the laughing face emoticon, the comment
could have been taken in an insulting way. For example, the subjects Facebook
may have read the comment and took offense to what they have said to him.
Consequently, using this emoticon helps the MFBU to read the message in a
non-offensive way and take it as a funny comment.
(1)= the subject’s Facebook
OFBU= other Facebook user
MFBU= main Facebook user
OFBU= other Facebook user
MFBU= main Facebook user
Good close focus needs more indication of the technique's significance - how many emoticons are used (overall, by MFU by commenters individually/on average) and are there any dominant ones? What are the layers of communication e.g. MFU might have known how to take that comment but other readers might have perceived it as rude, not knowing the relationship and how might that affect that user's persona? Could you use contrasting quotes to take the interrelationship of emoticon and language further with closer analysis of the implicature?
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