Smileys can make a big difference to how someone interprets your email. A well-placed smiley can soften a piece of criticism, can add a friendly tone to a request (or demand), or indicate that something has been said intentionally sarcastically.
Since the birth of email, people have been aware of the dangers of relying on only the written word for every day business communication. In emails, words can be misinterpreted, subtelties lost, and tone or intentions misunderstood. It’s true that this can be the case with all forms of communication, but email is especially susceptible.
Emoticons are for many a tool for overcoming these weaknesses of emails. Where a sarcstic remark is made that is intended to be funny, then add a tongue-in-cheek smiley ( :p ) to make sure people get the joke. When something funny happens, then laugh about it – ( 
). If something is just to be between you and the person you’re writing too, then add a winkey ( 
).
Kenneth Davis believes Emoticons are a natural evolution of language. He makes the point that when the question mark first came into use in the 9th century, and the exclamation mark around the 15th, there were undoubtedly many scholars who found them cumbersome, ugly and unneccessary; however, over time they were found to be useful additions to the language, allowing writers to express themselves and convey emotions and intent more effectively. In the same way, Emoticons have evolved to allow us to better express emotions and feelings in our written communications.
The belief that emoticons are uncecessary or ametuerish replacements for using clear and descriptive english to be understood belongs to the time before we were all writing to each other every day. In the modern business environment, most businesses rely on instant communication to operate – emails, instant messenger, and the like. Email has, to a large degree, replaced personal spoken conversation in the modern businessplace. (Whether this is good, bad or other is a topic for another time.)
In the past, written communication was in the form of letters that were carefully drafted, typed or printed on paper and then posted. You expected that the letter would take at least a few days to arrive to the intended recipient, so there was no sense of urgency with written communication. If something was urgent, you would use the telephone or talk to them in person.
Today, with the increased adpotion of email, instant messanger applications, SMS and other forms of instant communication, we can see a merge between written and spoken conversation. From a style perspective, modern communications writing is more like spoken communication, rather than traditional written style. A formal written style still exists, as does the spoken style – but we have a third and new style – let’s call it the “instant written” style.
It is also worth noting that when it comes to business emails, berevity is important. Emails need to be short, concise and to the point, and it is much often much shorter to use a smiley too indicate how you feel about something rather than to use words to describe it.
There are times, naturally, when emoticons are not appropriate. I would not use one in a formal business report, or anything that was intended to be printed on paper. An emoticon does not belong in an email to the CEO of your company, nor does it belong in a first email to a prospective client. However to proclaim that they are the amatuerish, show a lack of vocabulary or a limited grasp of language is an antiquated, pretentious and most of all snobbish attitude, IMHO.
October 24, 2011 at 3:22 pm |
Thank you. I just had this argument with someone and you have eloquently created my response! <- courtesy of the 15th century
<-courtesy of the 21st century