Pragmatic functions of emojis and emoticons in digital communication

The rapid growth of digital communication has transformed how meaning is constructed and
interpreted, with emojis and emoticons emerging as key pragmatic resources. This literature review
examines the pragmatic functions of emojis and emoticons in computer-mediated communication
(CMC), focusing on how they contribute to meaning-making beyond lexical content. Drawing
on existing studies, the review explores how emojis function as markers of emotion, stance,
politeness, and interpersonal alignment, as well as tools for managing face and mitigating
ambiguity in text-based interaction. The review also considers debates on whether emojis should
be viewed as paralinguistic features, pragmatic markers, or semiotic elements with independent
communicative value. By synthesizing research across social media platforms, instant messaging,
and online discourse, this study highlights the role of emojis in compensating for the absence of
non-verbal cues and shaping pragmatic interpretation in digital contexts. The findings underscore
the importance of emojis and emoticons in contemporary pragmatic theory and point to directions
for future research in digital discourse anal pragmatics
Keywords: Pragmatics, emojis, emoticons, digital communication, politeness and face
work