Emoji and Pictographs FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Emoji and Pictographs

Q: How do I propose a new emoji?

A: To propose a new emoji, you would need to follow the guidelines outlined in the Emoji Submission FAQ. This involves providing detailed information about the proposed emoji, including its appearance, potential use cases, and reasons for its inclusion. You'll also need to demonstrate its potential popularity and usability across different platforms and cultures. Once you've prepared your proposal, you can submit it to the Unicode Consortium for consideration.

Q: What are emoji?

A: Emoji are pictographic symbols originally associated with mobile phone usage in Japan, but now popular worldwide. The term "emoji" comes from the Japanese words for "picture character." They can represent a wide range of objects, emotions, activities, and more. Most emoji are displayed in color and are often used in digital communication to convey feelings, ideas, or concepts.

Q: What is the plural form of emoji?

A: Both "emoji" and "emojis" are considered acceptable plural forms in English. The Unicode Standard uses "emoji" as the plural form due to the Japanese origin of the word, but other publications may use "emojis."

Q: Where can I learn more about emoji in the Unicode Standard?

A: You can learn more about emoji in the Unicode Standard by referring to Unicode Emoji, which provides various resources related to emoji, including information about the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee and its processes. Additionally, Unicode Technical Standard (UTS) #51, Unicode Emoji, serves as the technical documentation for emoji in the Unicode Standard.

Q: How do emoji differ from emoticons, pictographs, and dingbats?

A: Emoticons are text-based representations of facial expressions or gestures, such as :-) for a smiley face. Pictographs are simple pictorial representations of objects, while dingbats are symbols derived from a specific set of characters. Emoji, on the other hand, are pictographic symbols that can represent a wide range of objects, emotions, and activities, and are often displayed in color.

Q: When is a proposed pictograph considered a symbol and when is it considered an emoji?

A: The distinction between a pictograph considered as a symbol or an emoji depends on how the character is used and displayed. Emoji are typically used in digital communication and displayed in color, while symbols may have broader use cases and are treated as plain text characters for public data interchange.

Q: Are icons, such as those appearing on device user interfaces or web pages, eligible to be encoded as symbols in Unicode?

A: Icons may be eligible for encoding as symbols in Unicode if they demonstrate a need for interchange as plain text in a text stream. However, strong arguments are required to support their inclusion as symbols. Emoji, on the other hand, follow specific guidelines outlined by the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee.

Q: What are the most frequently used emoji?

A: The most frequently used emoji may vary over time and across different platforms and regions. Resources such as Emoji Frequency and Emojipedia's Emoji Statistics provide insights into the popularity of various emoji.

Q: What limits are there on emoji that depict people?

A: The current set of emoji includes options for skin tones and genders for emoji depicting people. However, not every characteristic can be customized for each emoji, such as wearing glasses or having specific hairstyles. Many platforms offer avatar or sticker options for more extensive customization.

Q: What about representing diversity?

A: The Unicode Standard aims to support diversity in emoji representation, including different skin tones and gender options. However, it's not feasible to standardize every aspect of appearance diversity. Users can utilize emoji modifiers and sequences to specify skin tones and genders where applicable.

Q: What are “gender-inclusive” emoji?

A: Gender-inclusive emoji, such as the 🧑 adult emoji, are intended to be neutral or ambiguous in terms of gender presentation. They aim to represent individuals without specific gender markers, promoting inclusivity and representation.

Q: How were emoji originally encoded in Unicode?

A: Emoji were originally encoded in the Unicode Standard based on their general appearance, rather than specific meanings or contexts. The Unicode Consortium standardized emoji to facilitate their use in digital communication.

Q: Does each emoji have only one meaning?

A: No, the meaning of each emoji can vary depending on language, culture, or context. While emoji are treated as pictographs, their interpretations may differ among users and across different communication platforms.

Q: Does the Unicode character name define the meaning of an emoji?

A: No, a Unicode character name is a unique identifier and may not encompass all possible meanings of an emoji. The annotations and keywords provided by Unicode help define the intended meanings and usage of emoji.

Q: How many emoji are currently in the Unicode Standard?

A: The number of emoji in the Unicode Standard can vary, but you can find information about the current count in relevant Unicode documentation.

Q: Which emoji should an emoji font or emoji keyboard support?

A: Emoji fonts and keyboards should support characters and sequences listed in the data files referenced by Unicode Technical Standard #51, which are considered recommended for general interchange.

Q: Will more emoji be added to the Unicode Standard?

A: Yes, new versions of the Unicode Standard typically include additions of new emoji characters, although the exact number may vary.

Q: How does the standardization of emoji affect the other work of the Unicode Consortium?

A: The standardization of emoji can lead to improvements in language support and Unicode implementation across various platforms. Additionally, efforts such as the Adopt-a-Character campaign benefit from the attention drawn to Unicode through emoji standardization.

Q: How are emoji displayed?

A: Emoji can be displayed in color (emoji presentation) or black and white (text presentation), depending on the platform and context. Guidelines outlined in Unicode Technical Standard #51 provide recommendations for emoji presentation.

Q: Why do certain characters appear as emoji on some platforms but not others? Is there a way I can control this?

A: Variation selectors can be used to control whether emoji are displayed in color or black and white. However, the display of emoji may also vary depending on platform-specific implementations and settings.

Q: What about characters whose Unicode character names include “WHITE” or “BLACK”?

A: The presence of "WHITE" or "BLACK" in Unicode character names typically refers to the appearance of filled versus outlined shapes, rather than specifying color.