Contemporary Issues in Linguistics: A Systematic Literature Review on Emoji and Emoticon

Authors

  • Harits Setyawan Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA), Lampung Selatan, Indonesia
  • Bachrudin Musthafa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31849/elsya.v6i3.22574

Keywords:

CMC, Linguistic, Emoji, Emoticon, Digital Communication, Semiotics

Abstract

This research aims at reviewing the previous studies on emojis and emoticons in computer-mediated communication to provide information the extent to which they have been studied, as well as proposing a new concept for investigation and how it is implemented in research. To answer the research objectives, the author reviewed articles about emojis and emoticons published from 2012-2021.  The data are collected by using an application called Publish and Perish, as well as free social networking sites ResearchGate and Academia. The findings of the previous research are then synthesized. The research results show that the differences and similarities of emojis and emoticons, as well as which of them is used more often and why one of them is preferred have been investigated. Both emojis and emoticons are used to express emotion, clarify meaning, substitute texts and punctuations. Then, the use of emojis and emoticons is influenced by social relationships, level of formality and gender, emotional relationships, social media platforms, and linguistic patterns. Despite that, emojis and emoticons are not used correctly in terms of the meaning contained in them and have not been much studied by using linguistic theories. It implies that more research on emojis and emoticons which is paired with linguistic theories is needed. For that reasons we propose that the myth which emerges as the folded hand emoji is used and why the myth emerges are studied in the future research.

Author Biographies

  • Harits Setyawan, Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA), Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

    Harits Setyawan is a senior lecturer at Institut Teknologi Sumatera, currently advancing his academic pursuits in the doctoral Linguistics program at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Since beginning his teaching career in 2012, he has brought his expertise to numerous state and private universities. A visionary in academic publishing, he co-founded Institut Teknologi Sumatera Press and served as its inaugural director from 2020 to 2021, playing a pivotal role in fostering academic discourse and innovation.

  • Bachrudin Musthafa, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

    Bachrudin Musthafa is a distinguished professor at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, renowned for his extensive expertise in language education and academic leadership. His career highlights include serving as Dean of the Faculty of Languages at Widyatama University (2012–2016), Vice Director for Academic Affairs at the School of Postgraduate Studies, UPI (2007–2009), Coordinator of the Postgraduate Studies Program (2002–2006), and Chair of the Department of English Education at FPBS-UPI (2000–2004). Through these roles, Professor Musthafa has significantly contributed to advancing language education and shaping academic programs that emphasize innovative and impactful pedagogy.

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Published

2024-10-29

How to Cite

Contemporary Issues in Linguistics: A Systematic Literature Review on Emoji and Emoticon: . (2024). Elsya : Journal of English Language Studies, 6(3), 315-326. https://doi.org/10.31849/elsya.v6i3.22574