THE SYMBOLOGY OF EMOJIS: A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL UNDERSTOOD BY THE LEARNED AND UNLERANED; MISUNDERSTOOD BY SAME!

In the age of digital communication, emojis have become an essential part of our daily interactions. Emojis can be considered a primitive language of the digital world due to its widespread use and its ability to convey meaning and emotions in a simple and universal manner. These little pictorial icons, punctuate-text, memes and posts are colorful symbols that add emotion, context, and flair to our messages, bridging the gap between written text and face-to-face conversation, they come inform of smiley faces ????, heart shapes ??, thumbs ups, praying hands ?? and more, I am sure you have come in contact with such; 92% of millenniums uses emojis in daily conversations. Emojis cut across various platforms; used as a communication tool on different digitalized platforms, ranging from social media to messaging apps, allowing people from different disciplines, cultures and languages to communicate more effectively.

The rise of social media and instant messaging has led to the widespread adoption of emojis. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Thread have incorporated emojis into their interface, encouraging users to integrate these symbols into their messages and posts. The ease of use and their ability to instantly enhance communication have made emojis a staple in modern conversations. Moreover, emojis have transcended their initial purpose of simple emotions and expressions. They now cover an extensive range of topics, including food, travel, weather, professions, and even diverse representations of people. This expansion has made emojis more relevant and relatable to a broader audience. A good percentage of social media users, uses emoji extensively to express emotions, add context, and enhance their messages. Emoji offer a quick and visually engaging way to communicate, often transcending language barriers, it offers platforms for decodable communication for both learned and unlearned, simply put it is “an accessible language of all”.

However, as with any form of communication, there are those who interpret emojis differently, leading to misunderstandings and miscommunication between the sender and receiver, thereby creating a gap of “decoding differentials”; some emojis can be interpreted differently in various cultures. For instance, a "folded hands" emoji ?? might be perceived as a gesture of praying or gratitude in some cultures, while in others, it might be seen as a gesture of thankfulness or a simple symbol of luck.

A recent ruling by a Canadian judge, Judge T.J. Keene of the Court of King's Bench in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, has showed that sending a thumbs-up ?? emoji can be considered as a legally binding agreement. The case revolved around farmer Chris Achter and grain buyer Kent Mickleburgh, who had entered into a deal for the sale of 87 metric tons of flax in 2021. Mickleburgh had signed the contract and texted a picture of it to Achter, along with the message "Please confirm flax contract." In response, Achter replied with a thumbs-up emoji, Achter replied with a thumbs-up emoji which Mickleburgh interpreted as consent or agreement of contract; Failure, on the part of Achter to deliver the flax warranted Mickleburgh to file a lawsuit against Achter. ?In response the Judge agreed with Mickleburgh’s interpretation and ruled on June 8, 2023 that the emoji constituted an agreement. As a result, Achter was ordered to pay Mickleburgh $82,200 in Canadian dollars (equivalent to $61,000 USD). ?

In the context of law simple misinterpretation and misuse of emojis may not be forgiving, as the defaulter may attract substantial fines and punishments. Emojis heavily rely on the context of the conversation. A single emoji can be interpreted differently based on the preceding or subsequent messages. Lack of context may lead to misunderstandings and misconstrued intentions. For instance, a smiling face emoji ?? after a joke might indicate laughter, while the same emoji after a sad statement could signify irony.

It is important to know that, with the continuous addition of new emojis by the Unicode Consortium, some users might not be familiar with the latest additions. An emoji that is trendy and well-understood by some might be perplexing to others. As they evolve over time, their meanings may change or become more nuanced as they become more widely used. For example, the eggplant ?? emoji has gained a playful and sometimes suggestive connotation in certain contexts. As a Yoruba lady, with aged parents who loves the unique taste of eggplant, while chatting my parents, I may decide to send this emoji to show my genuine affection towards them, however, the Gen Z part of me may never send this particular emoji to my friends especially, the opposite sex as this may be connoted in an unexplainable or abominable context.

Lastly, emoji usage can be subjective, and individuals may have their interpretations or personal associations with specific emojis. Individuals by default has the ability to personally give an interpretative meaning to a subject, without secondary influence, this is to say that, an individual interpretation of emojis is quite different, this is because humans have different level of prospective perception of a subject, our ability to think beyond what we see or perceive stand as a leverage for intuitive interpretation of different emojis. This stands a wing to dance between contextual and literal translation of such emoji.

Emojis have undoubtedly become an integral part of modern communication, offering a quick and engaging way to express emotions and ideas. Their universal appeal allows people from various backgrounds to connect and understand one another better. However, the potential for misinterpretation by a minority cannot be overlooked. While considering and ensuring effective communication using emojis, users must be aware of cultural differences, context, and potential ambiguity. By combining written text with appropriate emojis and being open to asking for clarification when in doubt, we can continue to harness the power of emojis to enrich our digital conversations without inadvertently creating misunderstandings. As a user, the next time you see one of those icons think before you press!