PARALINGUISTIC MEANS AND PARALINGUISTIC LACUNAE IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION: THE CASE OF EMOJIS, GIFS, AND INTERNET DISCOURSE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62536/sjehss.2026.v4.i4.pp58-63Keywords:
Paralinguistics, digital communication, paralinguistic lacunae, emojis, GIFs, internet discourse, semiotics, intercultural communication, nonverbal communication, online interactionAbstract
This study explores the role of paralinguistic means and paralinguistic lacunae in contemporary digital communication, with particular emphasis on emojis, GIFs, and internet discourse. In the context of rapidly evolving digital interaction, non-verbal and semi-verbal elements have become essential tools for conveying emotions, attitudes, and pragmatic meanings that are often absent in purely textual communication. The concept of paralinguistic lacunae is analyzed as gaps arising from cultural, linguistic, and semiotic differences in interpreting such elements across digital environments.
The research highlights how emojis and GIFs function as compensatory mechanisms that enrich communication by providing visual and emotional cues, while simultaneously generating ambiguities and interpretative challenges. Special attention is given to the role of internet discourse in shaping new communicative norms and hybrid semiotic systems. The study argues that understanding paralinguistic features is crucial for effective communication in digital contexts, particularly in intercultural interactions.
References
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3.Jakobson R. Linguistics and Poetics // Style in Language. — Cambridge: MIT Press, 1960. — P. 350–377.
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