Data_Sheet_1_Mad or mad-mad: conveying subtle emotion with face emoji.docx

Introduction: To compensate for the lack of pragmatic information available when communicating via text message, texters make frequent use of texting-specific cues, or textisms, to convey meaning that would otherwise be apparent in spoken conversation. Here, we explore how one such cue, face emoji, can impact the interpretation of text messages.
Methods: In Experiment 1, we paired neutral text messages with valenced face emoji to determine whether the emoji can alter the meaning of the text. In Experiment 2, we paired valenced text messages with valenced face emoji to determine whether the emoji can modulate the valence of the text.
Results: In Experiment 1, we found that texts paired with positive emoji were rated more positively than texts paired with negative emoji. Furthermore, texts paired with stronger-valenced emoji were rated as less neutral compared to texts paired with milder-valenced emoji. In Experiment 2, we found that slightly positive texts paired with strong positive emoji were rated somewhat similarly to the same texts paired with mild positive emoji; however, slightly negative texts paired with strong negative emoji were rated much more negatively than the same texts paired with mild negative emoji.
Discussion: These results indicate that the presence of face emoji, particularly negative face emoji, can alter the interpretation of text messages, allowing texters to communicate nuanced meaning and subtle emotion.

引言：为弥补文本消息沟通中缺失的语用信息，短信发送者常使用短信专属的提示性表达，即短信体用语（textisms），来传递原本在口语对话中可直观体现的语义。本研究旨在探究其中一类提示——面部表情 emoji（face emoji）如何影响文本消息的语义解读。
方法：实验1中，我们将中性文本消息与带有情感效价的面部表情 emoji 进行配对，以探究此类表情是否能够改变文本的语义。实验2中，我们将带有情感效价的文本消息与带有情感效价的面部表情 emoji 进行配对，以验证此类表情是否能够调节文本的情感效价。
结果：实验1结果显示，与负面面部表情 emoji 配对的文本相比，搭配正面面部表情 emoji 的文本被评定为更具积极倾向。此外，与情感效价较弱的面部表情 emoji 配对的文本相比，搭配强情感效价面部表情 emoji 的文本被评定为更少中性偏向。实验2结果表明，搭配强正面面部表情 emoji 的轻度积极文本，其评定结果与搭配弱正面面部表情 emoji 的同类文本大致相近；但搭配强负面面部表情 emoji 的轻度消极文本，其评定结果则比搭配弱负面面部表情 emoji 的同类文本更为消极。
讨论：本研究结果表明，面部表情 emoji 的存在——尤其是负面面部表情 emoji——能够改变文本消息的语义解读，帮助短信发送者传递更为细腻的语义与微妙的情绪。