I do not recall when I first came across the title word, but do recall asking: “What’s an emoji?” My grandchildren gleefully replied: “It’s a smiley face!” Thus, revealing the divide between generations.

After that epiphany moment, I became more attune to symbols used in text messages. Not all emoji’s, however, represent smiley faces. Some show not so nice features; including, faces with a large extended tongue, with horns atop its head, with tears and downturned mouth, and so on. Others show no face at all, like a hand with the middle finger extended — no generational divide here!

Figuratively related to the emoji is an emoticon, both popularized during the email, texting era. Definitions: An “emoji” is “any of various small images, symbols, or icons used in text fields in electronic communications (as in text messages, emails or social media) to express the emotional attitude of the writer, . . . ;“ An “emoticon” is “a group of keyboard characters that typically represent a facial expression or suggests and attitude or emotion and that is used especially in computerized communications.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)

On January 30, 2018, Wall Street Journal carried a front page article on the topic, reporting that the emoji has taken on baffling legal connotations, particularly for the “unamused face,” increasingly becoming the “bones of contention in lawsuits ranging from business disputes, to harassment to defamation.” In 2017 alone, “emojis or emoticons were mentioned in 33 U.S. federal and state court opinions,…” The bottom line: Beware that your emoji or emoticon could be used against you to prove your real intention.

The emoji originated from Japanese culture, so some emoji meanings stem from the original meanings whereas others have taken on completely different meanings in modern culture. Remarkably, a world organization, The Unicode Consortium (unicode.org) sets global standards for emojis. They consider submissions, which must follow a set format, including expected usage level and meaning. Currently, Unicode has approved more than 100,000 characters, presenting an enlightened opportunity to find the perfect symbol to express your view — if you can find it!

I sought in vain to locate an emoji showing a smiley face with tongue in cheek. If I had found one, I still would remain unsure if its meaning may match what I intended. Accordingly, I will skip the emoji, concluding with a familiar emoticon, : )