Is an Emoji Language Around the Corner?

Would You Use an Emoji Language?

Emoji continue to become an increasingly common sight in social media and texting. There's even been a few books that play around with emoji. Recently, people have started discussing the possibility of an emoji language, so I weighed in on Twitter. I watch social media closely and it's my job to share some of the hot topics on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other outlets that teachers, principals, students, and parents are contributing.

Shelly Terrell, a SimpleK12 presenter, posted an article about the possibility of an emoji language from The Star. The article discussed a man named Fred Benenson, a fellow trying to create a legitimate emoji language. If you're really into emoji, you might have heard of him before; after all, he translated Moby Dick into Japanese emoji. If you've read Moby Dick, you know that's no small feat. Benenson is trying to raise funds to amass a group of translators who will help construct a true emoji language. You can read that article here.

Some think an emoji language is a great idea and inevitable based on the increase in emoji usage lately. Others believe emoji are too vague to ever become an official language. Currently, according to the article, there are no picture-based languages. This leads some to doubt the chances of the language ever becoming official. However, with Fenenson and others working on it, emoji could become the first (or, at least, the first in a long time).

Interested in languages? Check out the arguments for and against counting coding as a foreign language credit in schools here. Want to know more about emoji? See a cool way to use them in the classroom here.

Would you use an emoji language? Do you support this idea or not?  Why do you think picture-based languages haven't succeeded in the past?

Tori Pakizer is the Social Media Editor at SimpleK12.com. She writes regularly about the use of educational technology in K-12 classrooms, and specializes in how teachers use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media. You can follow Tori and SimpleK12 on Twitter @SimpleK12. If you have ideas for using social media in schools, please send your information or tip to editor@simplek12.com.