Emoji Use Raises Workplace Red Flags

Linguist Warns of Misinterpretation and Potential Offense

The innocent-seeming red heart or peach emoji can carry unintended weight, especially in professional settings. A linguistic expert is urging caution and policy development to navigate the subtle, yet significant, impact of emoji communication.

Emojis Demand Careful Consideration

Dr Zakeera Docrat, a forensic and legal linguist at the University of the Western Cape, highlighted the potential for emojis to cause misinterpretation in the workplace. Speaking at a recent webinar, she emphasized that the context and sequence of emoji use are critical.

“A lot of the emojis are open to interpretation, it’s based on context, the nature of the relationship between you and the recipient… If there is a power dynamic between you and another colleague, is it appropriate for you to be sending them an emoji. Is it an appropriate response to send an emoji? Why are you doing it?”

—Dr Zakeera Docrat, Forensic and Legal Linguist

Policies Needed for Modern Communication

Docrat advocated for companies to establish clear communication policies that address emoji usage. She stressed that such policies must be tailored to specific organizational needs and regularly updated to remain effective.

“It has to be something that’s updated quite frequently,” she advised.

Context is Key to Interpretation

The meaning of emojis can vary significantly, influenced by factors like personal relationships and even gender dynamics. Docrat shared a personal experience, stating that receiving a red heart emoji from a senior male colleague, without a close personal connection, would be perceived as offensive.

“The role of gender is also important and for me it influences the power dynamic, especially if it is a male senior colleague. If a male colleague sends me a red heart emoji, and I don’t have that type of relationship where I know them very well and I get sent a heart, I would immediately be offended that asked why you sending that,” she explained.

She also pointed to emojis like the “tongue out” face, questioning whether it signifies jest or insult depending on the surrounding context.

Emojis and Sensitive Cases

Docrat’s insights come as she testified in a tribunal hearing concerning sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge. The case involved accusations of sexually explicit messages and inappropriate conduct. This context underscores the importance of clear communication boundaries.

Cultural Nuances in Emoji Use

The interpretation of emojis is deeply intertwined with cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Docrat stated that understanding these nuances is vital for accurate interpretation, especially for experts analyzing digital communication.

“When we talk about the analysis or interpretation of emojis, we can’t be divorced in a sense from the culture and the language in which the emojis are being used. It is very important for an expert, and I don’t want to say [expert should] be from that culture or know that language but [the expert] has to have an association [with the culture or language it is being used].”

—Dr Zakeera Docrat, Forensic and Legal Linguist

She emphasized the need for contextual awareness, stating, “You have to be able to read the context. Understanding the language that is being used in a written text, understanding the culture is extremely important.”

Emojis identified as having potential sexual connotations include combinations like the peach and eggplant with water droplets, or the eggplant, banana, and lips in sequence.

A 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 90% of online adults use emojis, highlighting their prevalence in digital communication, and the need for clear guidelines in professional environments. (Pew Research Center, 2023).