This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Walther, J. B. Articles by D’Addario, K. P. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Impacts of Emoticons on Message Interpretation in Computer-Mediated Communication

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, walthj{at}rpi.edu

Kyle P. D’Addario

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Emoticons are graphic representations of facial expressions that many e-mail users embed in their messages. These symbols are widely known and commonly recognized among computer-mediated communication (CMC) users, and they are described by most observers as substituting for the nonverbal cues that are missing from CMC in comparison to face-to-face communication. Their empirical impacts, however, are undocumented. An experiment sought to determine the effects of three common emoticons on message interpretations. Hypotheses drawn from literature on nonverbal communication reflect several plausible relationships between emoticons and verbal messages. The results indicate that emoticons’ contributions were outweighed by verbal content, but a negativity effect appeared such that any negative message aspect—verbal or graphic—shifts message interpretation in the direction of the negative element.

Key Words: emoticon • smiley • computer-mediated communication • electronic mail • affect

Social Science Computer Review, Vol. 19, No. 3, 324-347 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/089443930101900307


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. S. Knox Punctuating the home page: image as language in an online newspaper Discourse & Communication, May 1, 2009; 3(2): 145 - 172. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Ledbetter Chronemic Cues and Sex Differences in Relational E-Mail: Perceiving Immediacy and Supportive Message Quality Social Science Computer Review, November 1, 2008; 26(4): 466 - 482. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Derks, A. E. R. Bos, and J. von Grumbkow Emoticons and Online Message Interpretation Social Science Computer Review, August 1, 2008; 26(3): 379 - 388. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. R. Provine, R. J. Spencer, and D. L. Mandell Emotional Expression Online: Emoticons Punctuate Website Text Messages Journal of Language and Social Psychology, September 1, 2007; 26(3): 299 - 307. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Byron and D. C. Baldridge E-Mail Recipients' Impressions of Senders' Likability: The Interactive Effect of Nonverbal Cues and Recipients' Personality Journal of Business Communication, April 1, 2007; 44(2): 137 - 160. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Pena and J. T. Hancock An Analysis of Socioemotional and Task Communication in Online Multiplayer Video Games Communication Research, February 1, 2006; 33(1): 92 - 109. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J. Mallen, D. L. Vogel, and A. B. Rochlen The Practical Aspects of Online Counseling: Ethics, Training, Technology, and Competency The Counseling Psychologist, November 1, 2005; 33(6): 776 - 818. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J. Mallen, D. L. Vogel, A. B. Rochlen, and S. X Day Online Counseling: Reviewing the Literature From a Counseling Psychology Framework The Counseling Psychologist, November 1, 2005; 33(6): 819 - 871. [Abstract] [PDF]