As a “newbie” to the internet, you will probably be shocked by the fact of coming across the texts, documents, mails or messages that contain a great deal of odd-looking but interesting symbols, punctuations, and logos. This writing style is a type of “shorthand” that internet users developed to express instantly their thoughts, feelings and emotions without wasting longer time typing them out.

On September 19, 1982, a computer scientist, Professor Scott E.Fahlman from the Carnegie Mellon University of the United States proposed to use the symbols in the university’s electronic bulletin board. This was due to that at that time, the electronic bulletin board did not make much difference from its classification as it only had one theme, and thus leading to the topic’s content could not be distinguished easily. Therefore, he had insisted the use of a symbol of [:-)] to represent a joke or a decent material while a symbol of [:- ( ] to express matter that needs to deal seriously and immediately. In this way, the internet users could avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding and the misuse of grammar while delivering his or her ideas. Since then this symbol which is called Emoticon has been used extensively in almost all of the unofficial sites. Thereafter, it has become another writing style favoring by the computer fans of the American university.

Emoticon in general means the emotional (EMOTION) and the small logo (ICON) that are used to merge together to form a new word. Initially, it was called EMOTICON SMILEY and it was started to use by the computer users on 19 September, 1982. Originally, Emoticon was a secondary culture of writing style via electronic network but it was not so common in the writing texts. Nevertheless, the massive access of an internet, ordinary letter, mobile phone text message or SMS, electronic messenger, electronic mail (e-mail), or chat room has created a wide coverage of using it to express ideas, thinking and feeling of the users. In short, Emoticon has eventually become a writing style that was widely accepted by the community across the globe. Not soon after this, the community in the blog, forum, and discussion board have been able to use more interesting and attractive Emoticon to express their feelings. Nowadays, this Emoticon has turned into a relatively complicated form than its initial simple form with the aims to express more appearances of the unperceivable facial changes. For example, [=l:)=] is a symbol that represents the previous American president, Abraham Lincoln.

The advent of the internet as well as the emergence of the global culture undoubtedly has turned the daily oral language into a symbolic expression in the writing form. Now, this Emoticon is no longer regarded as a ridiculous writing style, but it has become an important way for people to communicate with each other with ease which help avoid the linguistic or grammatical errors which might sometimes create misunderstandings, uncertainties and doubts among the people.

In Japanese, this Emoticon is called kaomoji, animae emoticon or verticon (Both “kao” and “moji” mean “face” and “word” respectively in Japanese). In the writing form, the asterisks (*) represents the eye, the underscore ( _ ) represents the mouth, while the parentheses (or brackets) represents the outline of the face. Besides that, Emoticon is also used to indicate animals, things and many other things surround us. Here are some examples I found:

Facial Expressions

• (*_*) a normal facial expression
• () sad
• (@_@) confusing
• (`_^) winking
• (;_;) crying
• (^o^) singing or laughing
• (╥_─) annoyed and frustrated
• `(•.°)~ crazy
• 〈（＿　＿）〉 apologize with a bow
• （￣口￣） helpless
  （＃－.－） embarrassing
  （─.─||） helpless
• ┐（─__─）┌ embarrassing
  ≡￣﹏￣≡ embarrassing and helpless
  Animals
• (‧‧nnn caterpillar
• (0^◇^0)/ sparrow
• (=^ ^=) cat
• /(*w*) rabbit
• ≡[。。]≡ crab
• ( ¯(∞)¯ ) pig
• (:≡ jellyfish
• <□:≡ squid
• tiger
• “@ or @/” snail
• (:◎)≡ octopus
• ((( ●<　 cockroach
• (。。)～ or (: )～ tadpole
• ∑^)/ crow
• (=^ω^=) fox
• =’ т “= Lion or cat
• (OvO) Owl

Others

• ♀（￣▽￣）／ Good girl
• ♂（￣▽￣）／　　 Good boy
• ( $ _ $ ) money minded
• <(￣ c￣)y_ξ smoking
• （～￣∆￣～） be a fool
• ■D” a cup of coffee
• ε==3 bone
• > >=< fish bone
• (●-●) sunglasses
• ――<-<-<@ rose flower
• 8＜ a pair of scissors

In the age of the internet, network based Emoticon is no longer a trademark of computer experts, any internet users may create his or her own Emoticons as long as these symbols are lively, creative and widely used. For example, there is a more complicated symbol called ORZ which often appears in the writing form as follow:

• Orz　 big head
• orz　 small head
• ○|￣|_ magnifying version
• ORZ two hands are supporting by the floor
• XXXXX Or2 rising up
• 囧 have a facial expression
• OTL change the shape
• STO change the side

Horizontal style Emoticon is the earliest mode of expression in the writing form. It is western style in its nature as it is more often used by the westerners as compared to other nations. Here are some symbolic representations found in writing form.

Common expressions

• :- ) smiling
• :- P holding out the tongue
• :- / doubt
• :- ( unhappy
• :- D happy
• :- C unhappy
• 8- ) A smiling from a person who is wearing a pair of spectacles
• xc== vomiting
• (p_-) searching

Not only have the westerners used Emoticon for their writing purpose, Asian people also have made used of the so-called vertical style Emoticon in all sorts of applications particularly in the mobile phone which is said to be far more popular than Europe. This Emoticon is different from the conventional Emoticon as they are mostly viewed vertically. This was mainly originated from the Japanese animation (or manga in Japanese). The facial expression is easier to understand and you need no necessary to have to turn your head 90 degree to understand its meaning. Here are some examples:

• (๑￫ܫ￩)
• (｡・`ω´･)
• (・(ｪ)・)
• (σ｀・д･)σ
• (oﾟωﾟo)
• < (o_o<)
• (>o_o)>
• ^(o_o^)
• (^o_o)^
• (^o_o)>
• <(o_o^)
• (>^_^
• (>O_o)>

The Japanese Emoticon is enriched with the anime drawing style with many expressions shown using the eyes, and it is always shortened by taking out its parentheses. Thus, (^_^) will become ^_^, but sometimes it is abbreviated as ^^. Very often, the use of the longer underscore which represents mouth will carry the stronger emoticon’s feeling and meaning. Here are some symbolic representations found in writing form.

Small eyes

• (　・ˍ・)　(・ˍ・*)　（p・_q）　(〃・ｏ・〃)　(*^・_・) 　(。・ˍ・。) 　(*・０・)　(・ε・●)
• (｡･ω･)　(。・д・。)　(・∀・)　（／ˍ・、）　(・□・、*)　(・－・。)　(・▽・。)　(・_・。)
• (・O・。)　(ノ△・。)　(＠・ˍ・)　(*・・*)　人(・ε・；) 　(・ o ・)　(・ェ・o)　(′・∀・『)

When something or someone gets into one’s eyes

• (* ￣ー￣)　(￣ー￣〃)　(＠￣ー￣＠)　(* ￣︿￣)　(*￣∇￣*)　 (￣(●●)￣)
• (￣・・￣)　(ー∀ー)　(￣ｏ￣)　(￣、￣)　(*￣△￣*)　(￣へ￣)　(￣□￣)　(￣～￣；)
• (。-ˍ-。 )　(￣ε￣；)　(￣┬￣；)　(￣∀￣)　(ノへ￣、)　(*￣ro￣) (ー人ー)　(*￣ｍ￣)

Japanese style small eyes

• (′▽`〃)　(　′ｏ`)　(′ェ`)　(′ε` )　(=′ー`) 　( ′θ`)　(′○` )　( ′－`)　(′∀`=)
• (*′▽`)　(*′ノ0`)　( ′ロ` )　(′～`；）　(′　︿　`)　(*′∇`*) 　(′ｍ`）　(′0ノ`*)
• (＠。ε。＠) 　(=′∇`=） 　(●′ω`●) 　(′～`●)　(′へ`、 )　(〃′o`)　(　；′⌒`)

Japanese style big eyes

• (ΘΘ)　(Θ～Θ〃)　(ΘｏΘ)　(ΘェΘ)　(Θ∀Θ＃)　(ΘдΘ；)　(Θ皿Θメ)　(ΘーΘ*) (Θ０Θ●)
• (Θ▽Θ)　(ΘεΘ◎)　(Θ◇Θ。)　(ΘへΘ)　(ΘˍΘ＝)　(Θ、Θ)　(Θ△Θ＠) (Θ３Θ)

Japanese style rounded eyes

• (°ー°〃)　(＃°Д°) 　(。□。) 　(*。∀。) 　(*。∇^*)　(* ^ー。) (＠。ー。　＠)　(。∇^☆)
• (ｏ。◇。) 　(　。 ▽ 。) 　(＃。ε。＃) 　(。∇^d)　(。・。；)　(。皿。メ)　(* 。 ３ ^)
• (〃。 ｏ 。〃) 　( °◇ °)　(　。⊿。) 　(°□°；)　(　ロ)。　。　(。Д。 ；)　(*。ノO。)
• (；　。。)

A puppy’s mouth

• (-ω- )　(+ω+)　(*ω* )　( ^ω^)　(;ω;)　(。ω。)　(『ω′)　(・ω・=)　(￣ω￣) (〃ω〃)
• (≧ω≦)　(。・ω・)　(=・ω・=)　( ＞ω＜)　(′・ω・`)　(/ω＼)　(/ω・＼) (/・ω・＼)
• (ΘωΘ)　(ΦωΦ)

A pair of sadden eyes

• (ＵＵ＊)　(ｕｕ〃)　(ｕｏｕ〃)　(Ｕ３Ｕ*)　(●Ｕ_Ｕ●)　(ｕ～ｕ=) (＠Ｕ▽Ｕ＠)　(ＵAＵ＊)
• (Ｕ△Ｕ●)　(ｕДｕ〃)　(Ｕ◇Ｕ◎)　(○ｕAｕ○) (ｕ▽ｕ＃)　(＠Ｕ～Ｕ＠)　(ｕ△ｕ＊)
• (ｕ◇ｕ〃)　(ＵДＵ◎)　(＝ｕ３ｕ＝) (ｕ_ｕ＃)　(ＵｏＵ＊)

Closing eyes

• (>_.o▽◇▽<)
• (;>△зェ皿_。；)　(>。ヘ)
• (ノ_y<;)

The combination of Japanese’s Emoticon or kaomoji (face and word) can be created from the basic form of ˙﹏˙ to a form of (˙﹏˙）which is more human in nature. Here are some of the basic forms of kaomoji.

Small eyes

• ˙ˍ˙　˙０˙　˙︿˙　˙ε ˙　˙ 3˙　˙ω˙　˙﹏˙　˙∆˙

Big eyes

• ⊙ˍ⊙　⊙０⊙　⊙︿⊙　￣ε ￣　￣ 3￣　⊙ω⊙　⊙﹏⊙　⊙∆⊙

Smiling eyes

• ∩ˍ∩　∩０∩　∩︿∩　∩ε ∩　∩ 3∩　∩ω∩　∩﹏∩　∩∆∩

Sadden eyes

• ∪ˍ∪　∪０∪　∪︿∪　∪ε ∪　∪ 3∪　∪ω∪　∪﹏∪　∪∆∪

Angry eyes

• ˋˍˊ　ˋ０ˊ　ˋ︿ˊ　ˋε ˊ　ˋ 3ˊ　ˋωˊ　ˋ﹏ˊ　ˋ∆ˊ

Unhappy eyes

• ˇˍˇ　ˇ０ˇ　ˇ︿ˇ　ˇε ˇ　ˇ 3ˇ　ˇωˇ　ˇ﹏ˇ　ˇ∆ˇ

Closing eyes

• ＞ˍ＜　＞０＜　＞︿＜　＞ε ＜　＞ 3＜　＞ω＜　＞﹏＜　＞∆＜

Alien’s eyes

• ●ˍ●　●０●　●︿●　●ε ●　● 3●　●ω●　●﹏●　●∆●

Clown’s eyes

• ＋ˍ＋　＋０＋　＋︿＋　＋ε ＋　＋ 3＋　＋ω＋　＋﹏＋　＋∆＋

In view of its importance in the writing form particularly in online-chat, ordinary letter, e-mail and text message, the mobile phone companies have included their products with a number of commonly used Emoticons to facilitate the use of typing text messages. Even Google Talk allows the messenger users to use Emoticons to express their feelings while chatting so that the communication becomes more lively and interesting. The notable feature of Google Talk is that the typing of horizontal style Emoticon can be inverted gradually 90 degree to turn into a vertical style Emoticon making the conversation more enjoyable and fun. Here are some common uses of Emoticons:

• ? I don’t know.
• %-( I’m not listening.
• %%- Good luck!
• **== flag
• (~~) pumpkin
• ~O) coffee
• =:) bug
• *-:) idea
• 8-X skull
• >-) alien
• :-L frustrated
• [-O< I'm praying.
• :-" I'm whistling.
• >- a sign of peace
• [-X I feel ashamed on you.
• / I'm dancing.
• >:/ I'll bring it forward.
• ) hee, hee
• ^:)^ It's not worth.
• :-j Oh, please go on.
• (*) star
• (%) yin yang
• $-) money's eyes

In view of the nations, racial and cultural background differences, the use of various symbols in the writing form represent different meanings. While doing researches on this topic, I came to realize that the kaomoji of Japan and other Asian countries have an extremely richer expression and vocabulary than any western countries that I have encountered so far. Its creativity and range of the facial expressions that appear in the writing form is extremely wonderful. Here are some examples:

• d^_^b I'm listening to music.
• (？o？) Oh?
• ( *>.<* ) ~@ It's sour…..!
• (-_-) zZZZ/ (z_z) I'm asleep.
• (°_°) I'm concerned/ I'm nervous/ I'm shocked.
• |-| I'm bored.
• (^.^) / (*_*) I'm amazed.
• (^L^) / (^(^) I'm happy.
• W(`0`)W I'm roaring in anger.
• (>__>) / (<_<) / (c_c) I feel pain/ I'm facing a failure.
• (^_-)db(-_^) I promise.
• T_T My tears are falling down continuously from my eyes. (It symbolizes sadness.)
• (^o^)/ Wow, I'm happy! (It symbolizes happiness.)
• *(^o^)/* I'm a cheerful leader.
• (._.) I'm depressed and down.
• (e_e) I'm rolling my eyes.
• ; eg. (^_^;) I'm embarrassed. (with a condition of sweating)
• o(^_-)O I feel encouraging.
• (@_@) I'm feeling dizzy. (Some nations note this symbol as “I'm confusing.” )
• (p_-) I'm digging for the truth/ I'm searching. (It symbolizes someone is looking through a magnifying glass.)
• (=^.^=) In a Japanese society, it is a question of “Am I cute?” (It signifies a cat or “nekko” in Japanese.)
• (-.-)y- I'm considering for a cigarette break.
• (^_^)a I'm scratching my head.
• (^o) (/o^)/ I'm dancing with a joy.
• ＜（￣︶￣）＞ I'm satisfied and contented!
• ＜（￣︶￣）／ I'm satisfied and agree with you. (It signifies that I'm holding out my hand to show an agreement)
• ＜（＠￣︶￣＠）＞ I'm satisfied but feeling a bit shame.
• (＞﹏＜) I don't want, please! (Sometimes it means “I'm in pain”)
• （＃￣▽￣＃） I'm ashamed.
• （︶︿︶） I'm unhappy!
• //_o I've a hair brushed over one eye.
• m(_ _)m Please forgive me! (Sometimes it may signify “I'm apologized to you with a bow.)
• (‧_‧？) What's the matter?
• ( T___T ) Why like this?
• (≥◊≤) I'm touching.
• {(-_-)} I've headphones put on.
• …… ( > < ) / Wow, it's emerging!
• (＞﹏＜) No!
  ( © o © ) I'm shocked and panicked!
• ( ¯ □ ¯ ) My brain is blank.
• ( 3__3 ) I've just awoken!
• (￣∆￣)" I feel cold.
• ＼（￣︶￣）／ Hug me, please!
• ｂ（￣▽￣）ｄ Marvelous!
• (→_→) I doubt.
• Σ( ° ∆ °|||)︴　 I'm panicked.
• (￣.￣) I've nothing to say.
• ⊂( ﾟ ヮﾟ)⊃ Hug me, please!
• （￣︶￣）↑　　 Let's depart now!
• （￣∆￣）～■□～（￣∆￣）　 Cheers!
• []~(￣∆￣)~* Cheers!
• (ｂ_ｄ) I’m wearing a pair of spectacles.
• ( ＠^^＠) 　 Don’t you feel ashamed?
• ~(￣∆￣)~(￣∆￣)~ I’m extremely excited!
• ~（￣∆￣）~ I’m in a happy mood.
• ○（＊￣︶￣＊）○ I’m full and sleep well.
• (○.○).•◦˙°˚ I’m thinking of you.
• (￣o￣) . z Z　 I’m sleepy.
• 〒∆〒　　　　 My luck is bad!
• <(￣ ﹌ ￣)@m It’s just because of you.
• (￣ε(#￣) I was slapped.
• (￣.￣)+ I’ve discovered something.
• []~(￣∆￣)~* (￣﹏￣) (￣ˇ￣) I’m satisfied and excited.
• ――――――(˙˙)/―――――― Let’s fly away!
• (@[]@!!) ㄟ(>∆<)ㄏ(￣ε(#￣) Σ( ° ∆ °|||)︴ I’m shocking!
• (/”≡ _ ≡)/~┴┴ （#－.－） (╬￣皿￣)凸 I’m unhappy and angry.
• (￣.￣) (￣ (～o￣∆￣)～o ~。。。(~￣∆￣)~[] I’m ridiculous and helpless.
• ＜（￣︶￣）＞＜（￣︶￣）＞＜（￣︶￣）＞ When we’re together!

Emoticon is a clever way of the users to express their feelings and emotions. If the user types “I’m feeling happy,” it could not 100% catch the reader’s attention to figure out his or her feeling, but by adding the Emoticon at the end of the sentence, the sentence will look more attractive, lively and eye-catching. Here are some examples of the sentences.

• I’m feeling happy
• I’m feeling sad
• I’m laughing
• I’m laugh’ so hard that I don’t notice that a 5-legged spider is hanging from my lip *
• I’m not sure which long-distance company to choose
• I’m winking
• I can still smile though I’ve lost one eyeball .-)
• I couldn’t understand why nobody wants to talk to me :V:-|
• I’m smiling :- )
• I doubt :- /
• I’m unhappy :- C
• I’m vomiting xc==
• I’m searching (p_-)
• Don’t buy this ^:)^