Journal of Technical Writing and Communication · 2004 · 120 citations · 7 references
Social SciencesCommunicationCommunication TheoryInterpersonal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationFacial ExpressionSocial Communication
A review of the literature shows that traditional nonverbal theorists failed to predict the future use of nonverbal cues in electronic computer‑mediated communication, and highlights the widespread informal use of emoticons and the need for business communication instructors to address how and what to teach about them. The article aims to determine whether emoticons used in computer‑mediated communication function as truly nonverbal cues. The authors describe a variety of emoticons—including traditional happy and sad faces, keyboard‑based variations, common abbreviations, and FLAMING—to illustrate the range of nonverbal symbols employed in CMC. The study concludes that emoticon use should be tailored to generational preferences, recommending that Traditionalists and Baby Boomers avoid emoticons in email, Generation Xers use common emoticons sparingly, and Millennials can use emoticons freely.
The purpose of this article is to help determine whether the use of emoticons in computer mediated communication (CMC) are truly nonverbal cues. A review of the literature revealed that the traditional nonverbal theorists failed to predict the future employment of nonverbal cues in electronic CMC. A variety of emoticons are then described including the traditional happy face ☺ and sad face ☺, numerous variations of faces employing keyboard keys, a number of abbreviations commonly in use, and FLAMING. Inasmuch as emoticons are presently in widespread though informal use, the problem of how and what business communication instructors should teach about emoticons is discussed. The conclusion reached is that of a generational recipient determinism. It is recommended that recipients who are Traditionalists (born before 1946) should not be sent e-mail with emoticons; those who are Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) probably should not be sent e-mail with emoticons; those who are Generation Xers (those born between 1964 and 1980) may be sent e-mail with some of the more commonemoticons; and those who are termed Millenials (bornafter 1980 and coming of age after 2000) may be sent e-mail with generous use of emoticons.
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Contemporary Business Communication
Harlan C. Lynn · Journal of Applied Communications · 1995 · 57 citations · Full text