Kyushu Communication Studies. 2004. 2:1-11 2004 How College Students Use and Perceive Pictographs in Cell Phone E-mail Messages IGARASHI Noriko (Niigata University of Health and Welfare) ITOI Emi (Bunkyo University) Abstract. Cell phone e-mail exchanges have been a common means of communication among college students in Japan. One of the characteristics of their cell phone e-mail exchanges is the use of pictographs (EMOJI). In this paper we examine in what situations students tend to use pictographs, how they perceive messages with pictographs and messages without them, and whether the status of the receiver of e-mail influences the usage of pictographs. Through the questionnaire surveys conducted at two universities, we found the following results: (1) Students use pictographs not only in trivial e-mail exchanges but also in situations such as making an apology; (2) students use different modes of communication depending on whom they communicate with in terms of the usage of pictographs; (3) in an apologetic situation, how they perceive a message with pictographs and without them varies even among students. They might all seek for sincerity in an apologetic situation. However, it is likely that the use of pictographs in a serious situation sometimes causes misunderstanding between the sender and the receiver of the message. Although pictographs have been said to be used as an effective tool to express emotions or feelings, the results of our research suggest that pictographs do not always convey what the sender intends and that there is a risk of sending a misleading message. 1
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