The Multifaceted Impact of Emoticons on Messaging
A girl's smiley in messages may carry a complex and layered emotional undertone that goes beyond the simple depiction of a smile. Its usage is often aimed at conveying hidden, subtle humor or a specific mood which is difficult to express in words. For example, one source notes: "The smile 'plays' not only around the mouth; it 'plays' across the entire face and especially in the eyes, from which it radiates. When only the mouth smiles while the eyes remain serious or frozen, we feel somewhat uncomfortable and even eerie. When only the eyes smile, we often enjoy a hidden, restrained humor." (source: link txt)This excerpt emphasizes that the emotional message of a smiley can depend on which part of the face is "participating" in the smile. If the focus is on the eyes, it may indicate a subtle, possibly ironic or even hidden message that is perceived as more intimate and multifaceted.Furthermore, another source draws attention to the use of symbols in modern messages that indicate the emotional context: "The formation of chains of communication with references to previous messages resembles cognitive ambivalent constructions, where the question and answer are marked by special symbols. The establishment of a hierarchy in forums serves as an excellent model for the emergence of a cognitive chain in an externally chaotic informational environment. In the structure of forums, an entire system of symbols indicating the emotional context of a message (delight, disgust, surprise, etc.) has emerged." (source: link txt)Thus, a smiley in a message can serve as a symbol that additionally emphasizes or intensifies the emotional tone of what is said. It helps the reader catch the nuance and meaning that are sometimes difficult to convey through words—whether it be hidden humor or another emotional shading.Supporting citation(s): "The smile 'plays' not only around the mouth; it 'plays' across the entire face and especially in the eyes, from which it radiates. When only the mouth smiles while the eyes remain serious or frozen, we feel somewhat uncomfortable and even eerie. When only the eyes smile, we often enjoy a hidden, restrained humor." (source: link txt) "The formation of chains of communication with references to previous messages resembles cognitive ambivalent constructions, where the question and answer are marked by special symbols. The establishment of a hierarchy in forums serves as an excellent model for the emergence of a cognitive chain in an externally chaotic informational environment. In the structure of forums, an entire system of symbols indicating the emotional context of a message (delight, disgust, surprise, etc.) has emerged." (source: link txt)