Emoji and illocutionarity
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Susan C. Herring
Abstract
Emoji can modify a textual utterance, constitute a stand-alone speech act, or virtually perform an action. These three broad types of pragmatic function are usually treated separately in the literature when they are treated at all. We classify these functions in a systematic, unified manner by drawing on the classic speech act notion of illocutionarity. We present a conceptually motivated typology that accounts for the three basic types of emoji function, as well as most pragmatic functions reported in previous emoji research, illustrating it with data from American and Chinese social media. The scheme can serve as a practical heuristic to guide empirical research on emoji use and a theoretical anchor for pragmatic studies of other graphicon types.
Abstract
Emoji can modify a textual utterance, constitute a stand-alone speech act, or virtually perform an action. These three broad types of pragmatic function are usually treated separately in the literature when they are treated at all. We classify these functions in a systematic, unified manner by drawing on the classic speech act notion of illocutionarity. We present a conceptually motivated typology that accounts for the three basic types of emoji function, as well as most pragmatic functions reported in previous emoji research, illustrating it with data from American and Chinese social media. The scheme can serve as a practical heuristic to guide empirical research on emoji use and a theoretical anchor for pragmatic studies of other graphicon types.
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Structures in discourse 1
- Evaluation as a persuasive tactic in the 2012 Obama-Romney debates 18
- How pragmatically (in)definite are you and one ? 36
- Amazing – The use of English in texting between a Finland-Swedish high school girl and friends 58
- The uses of laughter in epideictic radio interviews 83
- Temporality in reaction GIFs as multimodal virtual performatives 103
- Emoji and illocutionarity 124
- Revisiting adaptability 156
- Vernacular voices in the public sphere 176
- Contributor bios 202
- Index 205
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Structures in discourse 1
- Evaluation as a persuasive tactic in the 2012 Obama-Romney debates 18
- How pragmatically (in)definite are you and one ? 36
- Amazing – The use of English in texting between a Finland-Swedish high school girl and friends 58
- The uses of laughter in epideictic radio interviews 83
- Temporality in reaction GIFs as multimodal virtual performatives 103
- Emoji and illocutionarity 124
- Revisiting adaptability 156
- Vernacular voices in the public sphere 176
- Contributor bios 202
- Index 205
