Types of speech internet communication and functionality of its graphical display elements

This study examines the typology and functionality of graphical display elements in modern speech internet communication. Specifically, the research aimed to analyze different types of internet communication and their non-verbal components, thereby identifying and categorizing structural, functional, and semantic characteristics of these communication forms. To achieve these objectives, the study employed qualitative content analysis methodology to examine various forms of internet communication including blogs, social networks, email, and internet conversations. In particular, the analysis focused on four main categories of graphical elements: emoticons/smileys, emojis, graphic stickers, and memes, examining their communicative functions, contextual usage patterns, and semantic interpretations. Subsequently, the findings reveal that online interaction represents a complex system incorporating both verbal and non-verbal elements, where graphical display elements serve multiple functions beyond decoration. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that emoticons primarily express emotional states, while emojis offer semantic precision through categorized pictograms. Additionally, stickers provide character-based emotional expression, whereas memes serve as cultural touchstones that build community and establish shared understanding among users. Consequently, the study concludes that graphical display elements have become integral to modern digital literacy, thus compensating for the absence of traditional non-verbal cues in digital communication while creating new forms of expression unique to the digital environment. Moreover, the formality and informality of internet communication are determined by both platform characteristics and addressee relationships, with graphical elements adapting their roles accordingly in each context. These findings, therefore, have significant implications for educators, communication specialists, and platform developers who must consider the fundamental role of these elements in facilitating effective online communication.