Emoticons represent the best materialization of the particular aspects the digital language features. The use of emoticons on the hand have been subjected to various kinds of analyses which have singled out their joint representation of both oral and written language. This article proposes, using the indexical sign theory to understand the emoticons not simply as combination of other types of language but as the innovative form of the digital language. Looking more at the poietics of the emoticon use and less at its poetic, the article distinguishes among the types of usage depending on types of texts and, at the same time, between two categories or digital language practice consumers who understand emoticons rather differently in terms of coding and usage.
Key words:
indexicality, emoticon, cultural practice, simultaneous and non-simultaneous communication, digital language
The citations/references list is based on indexed publications only, and may therefore be incomplete. For any and all inquiries related to the database, please contact us at [Please enable javascript to view.].
pdf 
html 
