A smiley face, often referred to as a smiley, is a simple graphic representation of a smiling face, typically consisting of two dots (eyes) and a curved line (smile). It’s a widely recognized symbol used to express positive emotions, especially in written communication, and predates the use of emoji. [1, 1, 2]
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- Origins: The smiley face originated in the 1950s and has become a global symbol of positivity and friendliness. [2, 3]
- Emoticons: Smileys are often used as emoticons, which are text-based representations of facial expressions to convey emotions in written communication. [4, 5]
- Evolution: The smiley face has evolved into various forms, including emoji, where it’s represented by more detailed and animated graphics. [6, 6, 7, 8, 9]
- Common Meanings: Smileys generally express happiness, joy, friendliness, and positive emotions. [6, 6]
- Variations: There are numerous variations of smiley faces, each with subtle differences in expression and meaning. For example, a smiley face with smiling eyes might convey deeper happiness or amusement than a simple smiley. [1, 2, 6, 6, 7]
- Context is Key: The specific meaning of a smiley face can also be influenced by the surrounding text and context of the communication. [6, 6, 10, 11]
[1] https://www.three.co.uk/blog/smiling-emojis-actually-mean
[2] https://emojipedia.org/smiling-face
[3] https://www.sensoryedge.com/products/good-vibes-happy-faces-rug
[4] https://mason.gmu.edu/~afinn/html/tele/conventions/emoticons.htm
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074756322100011X
[6] https://later.com/emoji-meanings/people-and-smileys/
[7] https://emojipedia.org/smiling-face-with-smiling-eyes
[8] https://www.silicon.co.uk/workspace/skype-rude-emoticons-144835
[9] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/cyber.2011.0179
[10] https://www.mhlnews.com/labor-management/article/22055700/tell-employees-lose-the-emojis[11] https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1126897.pdf
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