The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation
This study investigates the interactional functions of the “Slightly Smiling Face” (SSF) emoji in Chinese WeChat conversations through the lens of Conversation Analysis (CA). Drawing on 50 naturally occurring chat excerpts involving 12 participants across various relationship types, the study identi...
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| Language: | English |
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Columbia University Libraries
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/lawandarts/%252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252509https:/journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/SALT/article/view/14082 |
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| author | Zhuolei Li |
| author_facet | Zhuolei Li |
| author_sort | Zhuolei Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the interactional functions of the “Slightly Smiling Face” (SSF) emoji in Chinese WeChat conversations through the lens of Conversation Analysis (CA). Drawing on 50 naturally occurring chat excerpts involving 12 participants across various relationship types, the study identifies three core uses of the SSF emoji: (1) signaling sequence-closing, (2) mitigating dispreferred actions, and (3) conveying disaffiliation without explicit disagreement. These functions parallel some of the roles traditionally fulfilled by nonverbal cues in face-to-face interactions, such as smiles or laughter tokens, revealing how digital communication retools physical gestures through symbolic surrogates. While prior research on emoji use often relies on statistical or multimodal analysis, this paper offers a context-sensitive examination that underscores how a single emoji can accomplish varied pragmatic work depending on sequential positioning and interactional context. By centering on a culturally embedded and pragmatically ambiguous emoji, the study contributes to the understanding of digital CA and broadens the scope of emoji research beyond Western platforms.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c3acffe4503443ca505d67acfc843cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2689-193X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Columbia University Libraries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c3acffe4503443ca505d67acfc843cc2025-08-20T03:50:31ZengColumbia University LibrariesStudies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL2689-193X2025-07-0125110.52214/salt.v25i1.14082The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic InvestigationZhuolei Li0Teachers College, Columbia UniversityThis study investigates the interactional functions of the “Slightly Smiling Face” (SSF) emoji in Chinese WeChat conversations through the lens of Conversation Analysis (CA). Drawing on 50 naturally occurring chat excerpts involving 12 participants across various relationship types, the study identifies three core uses of the SSF emoji: (1) signaling sequence-closing, (2) mitigating dispreferred actions, and (3) conveying disaffiliation without explicit disagreement. These functions parallel some of the roles traditionally fulfilled by nonverbal cues in face-to-face interactions, such as smiles or laughter tokens, revealing how digital communication retools physical gestures through symbolic surrogates. While prior research on emoji use often relies on statistical or multimodal analysis, this paper offers a context-sensitive examination that underscores how a single emoji can accomplish varied pragmatic work depending on sequential positioning and interactional context. By centering on a culturally embedded and pragmatically ambiguous emoji, the study contributes to the understanding of digital CA and broadens the scope of emoji research beyond Western platforms. https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/lawandarts/%252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252509https:/journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/SALT/article/view/14082Conversation AnalysisEmoji FunctionsSSF EmojiDigital PragmaticsWeChat |
| spellingShingle | Zhuolei Li The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL Conversation Analysis Emoji Functions SSF Emoji Digital Pragmatics |
| title | The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation |
| title_full | The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation |
| title_fullStr | The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation |
| title_short | The “Slightly Smiling Face” Emoji in WeChat: A Conversation Analytic Investigation |
| title_sort | slightly smiling face emoji in wechat a conversation analytic investigation |
| topic | Conversation Analysis Emoji Functions SSF Emoji Digital Pragmatics |
| url | https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/lawandarts/%252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252509https:/journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/SALT/article/view/14082 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhuoleili theslightlysmilingfaceemojiinwechataconversationanalyticinvestigation AT zhuoleili slightlysmilingfaceemojiinwechataconversationanalyticinvestigation |