The Eight Emoji You Should Carefully Consider When Working Across Cultures - Part 2

In the previous Newsletter, I discussed how emoji have become a popular mode of communication as well as four emoji that can cause a lot of misunderstandings when communicating across cultures. For example:

•  The OK hand emoji 👌
• The waving hand emoji 👋
• The folded hands emoji 🙏
• The sign of the horn emoji 🤘

In this newsletter, I will cover other emoji that can cause misunderstandings as well as strategies you need to consider when communicating with international teams.

But first, let’s clarify the spelling of the word.

Is it “emoji” or “emojis”?

According to Science Friday, the word “emoji” comes from the Japanese writing system and it symbolizes a picture, plus a letter or character. In essence, it is a pictograph or a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase.

As English speakers adopted the word, they applied the English grammatical rules to it, thus the addition of an “s” when referring to more than one emoji.

I prefer to use the word in its original form (emoji). However, this does not mean “emojis” is wrong. Languages are always changing and adapting.

Below are a few more emoji you need to pay close attention to when messaging your international clients or colleagues.

1) The thumbs-up emoji 👍

For most individuals in the west, the thumbs-up gesture carries a positive meaning. It can be interpreted as meaning “OK” or “I agree.”

The same cannot be said if you are from Greece, Africa, or the Middle East.

In some countries in the Middle East, for example, this gesture carries the same connotation as giving someone the “middle finger.”

Imagine your Nigerian manager sending you (a U.S. American) an email asking if the shipment has arrived and you send him a quick reply with 👍.

There is a significant difference between intent and impact.

2) The victory hand emoji ✌️

This symbol is commonly used as a peace sign or victory sign.

However, this is also a symbol that can put you in a lot of trouble depending on the recipient.

Popular folklore suggests that the original meaning of the victory emoji derived from the battle of Agincourt, which gave the English a victory in the Hundred Year’s War.

Legend says that the British archers were so impressive that the ones captured by the French had their index and middle fingers cut off so that they couldn’t pull the bowstrings anymore. This caused their comrades to use these two fingers to taunt the French.

Please note that the reverse of this symbol is considered offensive in Britain and in many countries of the Commonwealth where it is similar to giving the middle finger.

I can only imagine all the tourists taking pictures in front of Buckingham palace, making what they believe is a peace sign but, instead, insulting everyone around them.

3) The baby angel emoji 👼

This emoji has different meanings in the west where it is often used to symbolize an angel, a cherub, and even a cupid.

This emoji should not be used with your Chinese colleagues since, for them, an angel symbolizes death.

As innocent as it seems, there is a strong likelihood this symbol could be seen as a death threat. It is never OK to wish harm on anyone else.

4) The smiling face 😊

Contrary to popular belief, a smile is not a universal symbol of happiness.

In fact, according to CultureWizzard, a smile means different things in different cultures.

While in the U.S. individuals smile to be pleasant to those around them or to indicate they are happy, different cultures interpret smiles differently.

In China, for example, it implies distrust and disbelief, and it can even communicate an ironic tone.

In the United Kingdom, a smile can be deemed as flirtatious.

In Russia, a smile implies you are foolish, or worse, sneaky, and manipulative.

In Japan, a smile can be used to hide what you are actually feeling.

When communicating across cultures, resist the urge to use the smiley face with those you don’t know very well because not everyone interprets a smile the same way.

Five Things You Need to Keep in Mind When Using Emoji

The differences in emoji usage across cultures are many, and there is nothing we can do about that.

The following five strategies will make sure these differences won’t negatively impact your cross-cultural communication in the future.

1. Accept that emoji are not a universal language. Furthermore, considering the many differences in the meanings different cultures attach to emoji, using them in a multicultural workplace will pose some challenges. This is especially true for global teams where members don’t have the same opportunities to interact with each other on a regular basis.
2. In addition to knowing your audience, remember that the same emoji can also be interpreted differently by people from the same country. Unintentionally sending an emoji that might be perceived offensive might get you in trouble, depending on who the recipient is.
3. It is important that you learn the most commonly misinterpreted emoji that can cause misunderstandings in cross-cultural communication. You can read Part 1 of this blog here, in case you missed it.
4. There is a Chinese proverb that says: “He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.” So, try finding a cultural informant who can give you some insights into their culture. You can also observe how your colleagues use them and mirror their behavior. When all else fails, Google it!
5. With globalization and increased immigration, a culturally diverse workplace is common these days. Add to that the fact that companies now can hire people from all over the world to work remotely. The chances of you working with, supervising, or being supervised by culturally diverse individuals are higher now. To avoid misunderstandings, learn about the meaning of different emoji and how they are interpreted by those you interact with.