Graphic Equivalents of Prosodic Features: Analysis of the Use of Emojis in Computer Mediated Communication as Syntactic Variant

This study aims to analyze how emojis are used at various syntactic positions in computer mediated communication (CMC) to form constructions that express prosodic features as in natural speech. Computer-mediated-discourse analysis (CMDA) model of Herring (2004) is followed as a research framework for this study that focuses on manipulation of grammatical rules to create typographic impression to achieve prosody. Analysis of this study is based on syntactic variants of the use of emojis; emoji aspect, ellipsis, embedding, embedded, bare, partial bare, beside words, repetition of emoji and repetition of emoji encoded utterance. The findings reveal that unique constructions are formed, encoded with emojis displaying various manifestations to represent prosodic features in visual form to convey nuance in CMC i.e., intonation, rhythm, duration, pause and stress to express aggression, love, hate, sadness and joy etc., which are based on the original data taken out from real discussions, posts, comments and captions of various groups of two social media icons; Facebook and Whatsapp joined via open link. This study will augment the knowledge in the field of CMC and motivate other researchers to conduct further studies in this area i.e., graphic switching, social implementation of CMC, emojis role in messages of X to compensate lack of space in terms of word limit etc.