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Deciphering emoji variation in courts: a social semiotic perspective

Interdisciplinary Studies

Deciphering emoji variation in courts: a social semiotic perspective

J. Pei and L. Cheng

Emojis are reshaping the legal landscape, but their meanings aren't as straightforward as they seem! This intriguing study by Jiamin Pei and Le Cheng delves into how emoji interpretations vary across courts in China and the US, revealing vital insights for legal professionals navigating the complexities of digital evidence.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Emojis are increasingly used as digital evidence in courts, leading to miscommunication and misinterpretation due to their variability. This study examines emoji variation in Chinese and US courts through qualitative content analysis of court judgments and supplementary materials. Six categories of variation are identified: variation across platforms, temporal variation, variation in court cases under different rules of evidence, variation in individual participants, variation across social groups, and linguistic-cultural variation. A social semiotic perspective highlights the context-dependent and interpreter-dependent nature of emoji meanings. The study suggests that legal professionals should consider historical, social, cultural, and legal contexts when interpreting emojis, and that a contextualized approach can improve judicial decision-making regarding emoji-bearing texts and digital evidence.
Publisher
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Published On
Dec 13, 2022
Authors
Jiamin Pei, Le Cheng
Tags
emojis
digital evidence
court judgments
variation
interpretation
social semiotics
legal context
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