Is Emoji a Universal Language?

Abstract

The invention of the internet and digital communication channels has made it possible for people in different parts of the world to interact without geographic restrictions. Nevertheless, people from different speech communities may encounter communication barriers as a result of their language differences. The invention of emojis, which are perceived as a universal language, is believed to bridge the communication gap between individuals of different languages. To find out how effective emojis are in communication, the findings of four empirical studies, which investigated the use of emojis in communication, were collected and analysed qualitatively. The present study was anchored on Sonja Foss’s Theory of Visual Rhetoric, which posits that visuals must communicate effectively and accurately to their audience before they can be identified and described as communicative. The findings of this study, however, showed that while emojis can trigger the emotions of readers, they may fail to communicate effectively to them. Based on these findings, it was concluded that emojis may not be an effective tool in cross border interactions.