In just a few years, the emoji icons found on most smartphones and e-mail programs have become an integral part of communication, including business correspondence. These funny little pictures can play an unexpectedly serious role in determining the emotional tone of business communication. Employers often use emoticons to soften the imperative tone of their requests (Glikson et al., 2018). Employees who use emoji in business communication primarily seek to show the recipients of the letter exactly how to interpret it. This paper aims at analyzing the feasibility of using emoticons, emojis, or similar graphical devices in an email at work.
People most often use smiling faces in writing when communicating with their colleagues. If it is permissible to use slang words in the workplace, because the atmosphere in the team is relaxed, this behavior can be justified. However, a study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science claims that in some companies, if emoticons are present in business correspondence, they are considered as a sign of incompetence (Glikson et al., 2018). Therefore, in many cases, they should be avoided so as not to be misunderstood.
In addition to emoticons, there is a common internet lexicon. It is also characterized by abbreviations, the replacement of letters with numbers, and deliberate distortions of grammatical norms. Sometimes people use English grammar very casually on Twitter or corporate blogs. I often see grammatical errors or words like 4YOU—for you or CU—see you on the Internet. It is possible to note the reference point for the phonetic spelling of words in the language of electronic correspondence (Glikson et al., 2018). The replacement of letters by numbers is due to the desire to increase the speed of information transfer. In general, I support literacy in both personal and business communication, as well as on social networks. I believe that in any correspondence, people should first create a good impression of themselves.
The need for full-fledged communication on the Internet has given rise to new sign systems. However, people need to carefully weigh the tone of their work messages before adding an emoticon into it. It is permissible to use emojis in electronic correspondence with colleagues and the boss but do it carefully in order not to be suspected of frivolity. It is also important to follow generally accepted grammar rules when writing business messages.
Reference
Glikson, E., Cheshin, A., & van Kleef, G. A. (2018). The dark side of a smiley: Effects of smiling emoticons on virtual first impressions. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 9(5), 614-625.