A semantics of face emoji in discourse

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of face emoji (disc-shaped pictograms with stylized facial expressions) that accompany written text. We propose there is a use in which they comment on target proposition expressed by the accompanying text, as opposed to making independent contribution discourse. Focusing positively valenced and negatively (which we gloss happy unhappy , respectively), argue how bears contextually provided discourse value endorsed author. Discourse values embody what author desires, aspires to, wishes for, or hopes for. Our derives range non-trivial generalizations, including (i) ordering restrictions regards placement (ii) cases apparent mixed emotions, (iii) where lexical content text influences acceptability emoji.