Monday, 18. December 2006

All about Asian emoticons (^_^)


The Smileys(Emoticons) are used very often in the sentences of e-mails. They started in USA where the internet had also started of course. In Japan, the Smileys(Emoticons) grew in different manner from U.S.A. Now, there are several kinds of them.

Apparently, Japanese Smileys(Emoticons) are read vertically whilewestern Smileys(Emoticons) are read hosizontally. And Japanese Smileys have more variation than eastern ons. I think the reason is that while American(alphabet) letters in computer are 1 byte, Japanese letters in computer are 2 bytes, so Japanese letters can have more characters. And also, Japanese sentences contain Chinese characters which are phonograms, so it is easier to express and recognize something graphic with letters for Japanese people.

club.pep.ne.jp

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