Written Communication - Part 1: Use of 'Smileys' (emotions)

During the 1990's people started using e-mails and other ways of of communicationg through the internet on a more regular basis. People do this to show an expression of fun or joy in an easy way.

Smilies are a useful way of expressing your feelings to somebdy without having face-to-face contact with them.

Ihave listed three example of this below;

A smiley is usually used to show happiness: "I bought a new computer today! :-)"

A smiley can show that the sender doesn't want to hurt a person's feelings: "That was a silly thing to do! :-)"

A smiley can show that the sender is joking or being sarcastic: "Don't you think tests in school are really fun? :-)"

From the smiley came other ideas for showing emotions using keyboard symbols:

• :-) ... Smiley


• ;-)... I'm winking!


• :-D ... I'm laughing!


• :-( ... I'm frowning!


• :- ... I'm disappointed!


• :-o ... I'm surprised!


• :'( ... I'm crying!


• :-s ... I'm worried!


• {:-o .. I'm going crazy!


• :-P ... I'm poking my tongue out!


• x-P ... That's disgusting!


• <:o) .. Let's have a party!