How Emojis Have Become a Language Within a Language in China (opens original article in a new tab)

Emojis have evolved into a unique form of communication in China, where they are used phonetically and with double meanings, often substituting for sensitive or censored words. This has created a subculture where emojis serve as a language within a language, leading to generational and cultural communication gaps.

• Emojis in China are used phonetically, substituting for words with similar pronunciations, such as 'horse face' for profanities.
• Chinese users developed this practice due to pinyin input systems and the nature of logographic characters, enabling puns and homophonic wordplay.
• The use of emojis has led to a subculture with absurdist humor and inside jokes, but also creates communication barriers between generations and those outside the subculture.
• Emojis, originally meant to be universal, have become culturally specific in China, with meanings that vary widely across different groups.