JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS
JoAL Vol.
5 No.
January 2026 Journal of Applied Linguistics e- ISSN 2809 - 1922 , p-ISSN 2809 - 1914 Available online at:
https://journal.
org/index.
php/joal/index Semantic Shift in Emoji Usage Among Generation Z in WhatsApp Group Chats Sylvia Opoku-Fofie1*.
Kaitlyn Naa Ahima Quarcoo2 1Department of English.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Ghana 2 Department of English.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Ghana *Correspondence Email: sopokufofie@gmail.
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received : December 1, 2025 Reviewed : December 3, 2025 Revised : December 30, 2025 Accepted : December 31, 2025 Available online : January 5, 2026 Keywords:
Emoji.
Semantic Shift.
Generation Z.
WhatsApp.
Digital Communication Abstract The meanings of emojis have shifted from just conveying emotions to be complex semiotic symbols.
In this ethnographic case study, we investigate how Generation Z repurpose the meanings of emojis during their WhatsApp group interactions.
This study is guided by Ullman .
and PaulAos .
rans, 1.
theoretical frameworks on semantic shift.
Using a purposive sampling of six WhatsApp groups .
nformation-oriented, academic 1&2, religious, socialization, business-oriente.
, the results reveal six semantic-shift patterns which include: Transfer of Meaning .
2%).
Broadening .
6%),
Amelioration .
5%).
Pejoration .
1%).
Narrowing .
0%), and Degeneration .
1%).
The findings reveal Transfer of Meaning as the predominant semantic shift pattern within the WhatsApp interactions of Generation Z.
The conclusion drawn is that emoji semantics is context-driven, making one better appreciate the digital language evolution of the Generation Z cohort.
INTRODUCTION
Digital Communication has experienced a rapid growth in the past decades and has transformed communication modes and practices.
With the advancement in technology, which led to the introduction of smartphones, messaging apps like WhatsApp have been developed to make communication easier, simpler and faster (Silva, 2.
A characteristic of these messaging apps is the use of emoticons .
Although seen as a set of simple icons in the last decade of the 20th Century, emojis have evolved in their usage to increase personalization to become interactive objects (Konrad.
Herring & Choi, 2.
Because of this, emojis have greatly enhanced digital With time, the use of emojis has advanced and has led to semantic shifts, where some emojis can be used to convey meanings other than their initial meanings (Jain, 2.
WhatsApp group chats accelerate semantic shift through immediate user response, shared memes and widespread social trends, unlike spoken language where semantic shift occurs gradually (Wijaya & Yeniterzi.
WhatsApp group chats present instances that show how emojis are often used in diverse ways to show sarcasm, irony, emphasis and emotional tone, which result in changing their original meanings (Tambunan et al.
, 2.
According to Brosdahl and Carpenter .
Generation Z refers to a cohort of individuals born in 1991 and later.
However.
Bencsik et al.
and Wijoyo et al.
explicitly describe Generation Z as persons born between 1995 and 2010.
Unlike previous generations like the Gen X and Gen Y.
Gen Z exhibits unique characteristics.
They have easy access to technology and the internet due to the web revolution that happened in the 1990s.
Although the Generation Zs live in Published by English Lecturers and Teachers Association (ELTA) Copyright A 2026, authors DOI: 10.
52622/joal.
Journal of Applied Linguistics (JoAL).
Vol.
5 No.
January 2026.
e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 different cultural, social, economic and political settings, they share common characteristics which are a result of technology and globalization (Panagiotou.
Lazou, & Baliou, 2.
They live their lives with technology playing a central role, and are familiar with smartphones, the internet and social Therefore, they make use of digital tools like pictures.
GIFs, emojis, and videos because their communication style is visually engaging and interactive (Stillman & Stillman, 2.
Despite the extensive studies on the semantic shift of words (Traugott, 2017.
Jatowt & Duh.
Periti et al.
, 2.
, research on emoji semantics is still emerging.
While some research works have examined emoji processing (Barach.
Feldman, & Sheridan, 2.
, grammatical constraints in pictorial communication (Cohn, 2.
, and the shift in meaning over time (Robertson et al.
, 2.
few specifically address how Generation Z reinterprets emoji meanings in WhatsApp Group Chats.
In view of this, this study seeks to identify the semantic shift patterns that are evident in emoji usage among the Generation Z in WhatsApp group chat and to identify the dominant semantic shift pattern that emerges from WhatsApp group chats of Generation Z.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theoretical Framework The study adopts the semantic change theory as a lens to provide an understanding of how the meanings of symbols .
change within WhatsApp groups frequented by Generation Z users.
The framework categorizes six patterns, which include narrowing, broadening, amelioration, pejoration, transfer of meaning and degeneration, which are mapped onto two foundational linguistic PaulAos .
rans, 1.
Logico-rhetorical approach emphasizes figurative mechanisms of change by focusing on narrowing, broadening and transfer of meaning while UllmanAos .
emotive and connotative theory focuses on amelioration, pejoration and degeneration.
Broadening is a semantic process where a lexical item or symbol expands to have multiple meanings and interpretations beyond what it originally had (Paul, trans 1.
In linguistic terms, it is when a word or symbol has a wider range of meaning due to how it is used metaphorically (Traugott, 2.
or its social adaptation (Tianying & Bogoyavlenskaya, 2.
Narrowing is the opposite of broadening.
It is also a semantic process of restricting the meaning of a sign to become more specific (Paul, trans 1.
It reduces the range of interpretations in order to arrive at a more focused one (Traugott, 2.
The symbol undergoes a refinement to perform a specific communicative need (Clark, 2.
Pejoration is a semantic process whereby a lexical item or sign attains a negative or mocking meaning that shifts from what it originally meant (Ullman, 1.
With symbols.
Pejoration usually happens when a sign is repurposed to either ridicule or show sarcasm (Jeshion, 2.
Transfer of Meaning occurs when a word or symbol shifts from its original semantic territory into a new context through a pragmatic reinterpretation (Paul, trans 1.
While it applies to lexical items, visual symbols are no exception since their meanings are usually driven by context.
Degeneration refers to the erosion of a symbolAos original connotative power, leading to reduced clarity or trivialization.
In UllmanAos .
framework, the semantic shift pattern is not conventionally categorized as degeneration.
however, his explanations on semantic weakening offer the basis for examining how repetition can weaken a symbolAos emotional depth.
In this study, we transfer semantic change theories of Ullman .
and Paul .
which were originality meant as the analytical framework for lexical items to emojis to prove that emojis experience semantic shift.
In the lens of these frameworks, this study explains the contextual processes that result in semantic shifts in the use of emojis.
Therefore, this study examines how emojis acquire new meanings, experience metaphorical or contextual extensions and mirror the changing patterns of communication among Generation Z.
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 Empirical Review Current studies on semantic change present a significant theoretical basis for examining semantic change in emoji usage.
Nevertheless, some gaps and points of convergence can be highlighted in those studies as a result of differences in terms of scope, data and analytical focus, and this is what this study seeks to fill.
In AgyekumAos .
study on semantic change in Ghana, it is shown how governmental policies, societal attitudes, and practical communication needs influence meaning and language The findings also stress that multilingualism, assimilation and language maintenance act as the main determinants of semantic change.
Although there is no adoption of any semantic change theory, an important sociolinguistic principle that meanings change to suit userAos communicative contexts is emphasized.
This same insight can be identified during online communication where emojis become semiotic markers shaped by group conventions and communicative needs.
However, his reliance on interviews and questionnaires decreases insights into real-time meaning negotiation, a gap which the present study, through the analysis of naturally occurring WhatsApp chats, intends to fill.
Opoku .
finds metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, euphemism, and calquing as dominant characteristics of Ghanaian English in his study of semantic change in Ghanaian English.
His use of KachruAos .
Concentric Circles Model reveal how non-native English varieties adapt to reinforce local identities.
His study is conceptually relevant as semantic processes like metaphor and pragmatic extension also operate in emoji usage, where visual symbols develop culture-specific meanings beyond their literal representations.
However, his emphasis on words does not address how semantic shift may happen in the use of emojis.
Carling et al.
present a broad theoretical account of semantic shift through the lens of the Prototype Theory.
Their results reveal that meanings originate from central prototypes through semantic processes like generalization, specialization, metaphor, and metonymy.
Their study also details how prototypical senses act as cognitive anchors, from which other meanings emerge.
They provide a useful approach for evaluating emojis, where emojis have prototypical visual meanings that develop through frequent contextual usage in online communications.
On the other hand, the diachronic and cross-linguistic approach to spoken language does not reflect the rapid interactiondriven semantic shifts typical of digital communication.
Also.
Adogpa .
highlights how Ghanaian English undergoes semantic adaptation to reflect local identity by focusing on the role of language users in creating meaning.
This practice is similar to how emojis acquire new meanings to express attitudes, humour, sarcasm or social alignment in online communication.
However, his emphasis on established cultural expressions contrasts with the unstable and evolving meanings of emojis, which normally change over short periods and across digital communities.
In emoji-centered research.
Robertson et al.
present a quantitative, longitudinal account of emoji semantic change by observing similar patterns to meaning change in spoken language.
Their results support the claim that emojis undergo semantic shift through processes similar to metaphorical extension and contextual reinterpretation.
Nonetheless, by focusing on frequency and pattern detection, their computational approach provides limited attention to sociocultural interpretation, making room for a qualitative and context-driven analysis.
Conversely.
Udoudum et al.
and Amadu .
observe semantic ambiguities surrounding emoji meaning, which create the risk of misinterpretation.
Both studies support the argument that emoji meaning is shaped through social interaction.
While both studies confirm the fluidity of emoji meanings, there remains a descriptive limitation on how and why emoji meanings Published by English Lecturers and Teachers Association (ELTA) Copyright A 2026, authors Journal of Applied Linguistics (JoAL).
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 Also, both studies approach semantic change primarily as a communicative problem, rather than as a structured linguistic process governed by specific semantic mechanisms.
Taken together, existing scholarship recognizes the evolving nature of meaning, but offers little engagement with semantic-shift theory in qualitative approaches to emoji usage in real-time, naturally occurring digital interactions in Ghanaian WhatsApp chat groups.
METHOD
Research Design The study employs a qualitative content analysis with descriptive statistics within an ethnographic case study design.
Ethnography is a research approach intended to understand social practices and cultural phenomena by a close observation of participants in their natural context (Hammersley & Atkinson, 2007.
Wolcott, 2.
Naturally occurring digital interactions are collected to capture real-time use of emojis.
Based on Mayring .
and SchreierAos .
approach, the emojis are first analysed qualitatively to uncover the patterns of meaning and semantic shift under the lens of Ullman .
and PaulAos .
semantic change theories.
Each instance of an emoji is coded based on the semantic shift pattern it signifies.
Next is descriptive statistics, where frequencies and percentages are calculated to summarize the instances of the various semantic shift patterns identified to present a clear picture of the dominant patterns together with their interpretive analysis (Sandelowski, 2.
This research design ensures a systematic and contextdriven analysis which captures both the making processes and general trends in emoji usage.
Data Source This study uses WhatsApp chats, which include emojis, as the primary data.
The data were exported from the WhatsApp group chats.
The researcher is a member of all six WhatsApp chat groups whose participants mainly fall within the Gen Z cohort and so, through purposive sampling, those groups were selected.
The criteria used for the selection include their level of engagement and the frequent use of emojis in their interaction.
This formed the basis for the selection so that relevant data for the semantic shift analysis could be exported.
Throughout the selection process, participant consent was sought from the group administrators.
Permission was sought from the group administrators instead of the individual members since there was an average of about two hundred .
participants in all the groups except one.
Therefore, obtaining consent from each participant in the groups would have delayed the data collection process.
However, the group administrators were assured that the data would be used for only academic purposes, thus ensuring that the anonymity and confidentiality of the participants in every group used for the study are prioritized (Hwang, 2.
Data Collection The process began by exporting the entire text messages within the group without media to a secure Gmail account, which happens to be the researcherAos account.
This was done to simplify the data collection process and ensure easy access and organization of the data (Taherdoost, 2.
After the chats were exported, specific texts were selected to align with the focus of the researchAos objectives to analyze emoji usage.
The selected chats were then cleaned and prepared by eliminating personal identifiers within the chats (Stewart, 2.
To understand how Generation Z use emojis to change their literal representation, six WhatsApp groups of which one of the researchers was a member of were selected.
This was to ensure that each group had a majority of Gen Z participants who actively engage in group interactions.
The groups selected included two academic groups, an information-oriented group, a socializationoriented group, a religious-oriented group and a business-oriented group.
Those groups were named using the alphabet rather than their actual names as part of ethical standards and privacy protection (Dube.
Mhlongo & Ngulube, 2.
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 Academic Group 1- Group A was a student-led WhatsApp group dedicated to academic This group was selected due to its engagement level among the members identified as Generation Z to observe how the students repurpose emoji meanings to express their sentiments in academic-related interactions.
Academic Group 2 Ae Group B was equally academic-oriented, but unlike the first, which was mainly students, the second group included a lecturer.
To provide a contrasting academic context where formal discourse and hierarchical roles were present.
The presence of the lecturer did not interrupt the studyAos demographic focus since the majority of members were in the Gen Z cohort.
rather created a context to investigate the shifts in the meanings of emojis and communicative dynamics when an authority figure joins in the interaction.
Information-Oriented Group Ae Group C was selected since participants were active and interested in current affairs and trending issues.
The focus of the group in discussing news-related items made it ideal for observing how emojis were used within the informational contexts.
Religious Group Ae Group D was also selected as it served as a space for interaction for church related activities.
It was selected because of how emojis were repurposed within this group to align with the spiritual dialogues they have within it.
Socialization-Oriented GroupAeGroup E was selected because of the way members actively engaged in interactions as well as the informal tone within the group, which made them use emojis almost every time they interacted.
This made it an ideal source of data, relevant to the studyAos Business-Oriented Group Ae Group F was selected to observe the diversity of emoji usage within an entrepreneurial and transactional environment.
The group members belonged to the Gen Z cohort and this group was included because of the studyAos aims as it displayed how the meanings of emojis shifted to play functional roles.
Data Analysis Procedure The data were analyzed using a content analysis procedure.
Content analysis includes several procedures in relation to its analytical goals and the techniques developed to achieve those goals (Titscher et al.
, 2.
This procedure guaranteed the understanding of the semantic shift of emojis by linking the qualitative interpretation with the quantitative tracking of the occurrence patterns of particular emojis.
The analysis was guided by the semantic change theories of Ullman .
and Paul .
Ae Broadening.
Narrowing.
Amelioration.
Pejoration.
Transfer of Meaning and Degeneration.
Therefore, the emojis were classified and analyzed within the chats, that is, their conversational context, to identify the semantic shift patterns.
More so, the frequency of the patterns of semantic shift identified was calculated to determine the prevalent pattern.
Coding Steps The coding procedure followed a systematic, multi-step technique: first was data familiarization, where exported WhatsApp chats were read severally to understand the communication context.
Second was the initial coding where every occurrence of an emoji was coded according to its contextual meaning, not its default Unicode meaning.
Third was the theoretical coding where the codes were classified based on Ullman .
and Paul .
semantic shift Fourth was verification by context where the emoji meanings were cross-checked against surrounding chat and response patterns to confirm their interpretive validity.
Fifth was quantification where the coded instances were totaled to generate descriptive statistics.
The examples below illustrate the coding steps:
Example 1 AuPlease, if you are not ready to make payment donAot ask for my momo number oaAy Example 2 AuSo no one is sympathizing with this poor obolo.
How come people are so mean oCeiAy The default Unicode meanings of the emojis oa, oC, ei are prayer, joy and heartbreak However, in the contexts above, they are used to signal politeness, irony and sarcasm.
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 Such instances were coded as semantic extension with pragmatic reinterpretation .
arrowing and The number of occurrences was then counted and presented descriptively.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The sections below address the research objectives.
The first research objective sought to identify the semantic shift patterns evident in the emoji usage among Generation Z in WhatsApp group chats.
The second research objective sought to determine the dominant semantic shift patterns that occurred across the various WhatsApp groups.
Semantic Shift Patterns Evident in Emoji Usage in WhatsApp Group Chats among Generation The results presented from the findings suggest evident ways of how emojis were repurposed within the digital communicative space of Generation Z users.
The semantic shifts identified were either socially driven or contextually driven.
By applying the framework of Ullman .
and Paul .
rans, 1.
, six semantic shift patterns were identified.
Broadening Paul .
defines semantic broadening as a process where the meaning of a word expands beyond its definition, like when a word takes on extra meanings.
According to Paul .
, the process is not a random one.
It is usually driven by the speakerAos intentions to adapt familiar words to new communicative contexts.
Although the original meanings of the words are retained, new related meanings are added based on the context in which they are used.
In the examples below, the following emojis are broadened:
Example 3 AuWe are restocking today please load your wallet to avoid sold outAy Example 4 Au class is cancelledAy In example 3, the emojis aOandeE emojis which originally represent celebration and dancing respectively, were used to amplify the announcement of restocking and excitement about the business to cause a shift from their literal denotations.
This supports PaulAos .
rans, 1.
notion of individual reinterpretation, as a result of expressive needs, where the sense of a word is retained while the meaning expands.
With example 4, the esemoji shifted from denoting location to signaling emphasis.
This supports PaulAos .
rans, 1.
idea that semantic broadening emerges from pragmatic adaptation, where users reassign emojis to meet a communicative goal.
Narrowing Paul .
explains semantic narrowing as the situation where a lexical item or sign loses some of its original semantic range through specialized usage.
This restriction happens when a word or sign is continuously used within a limited context, causing its broader connotation to fade Paul .
rans, 1.
emphasizes that semantic narrowing is a sign of psychological and functional adaptation.
The meaning of the word or sign is narrowed to achieve a communicative need as shown in the examples below:
Example 5 AuPlease can we have the PDF or slides Ay Example 6 AuNo offense .
wisdom should tell us that more clarification will be given if we are to go zoom even though the format had already been stated Ay From examples 5 and 6, the emoji, which represents prayer, was used to show politeness and etiquette.
The religious connotation was narrowed to a marker of courtesy.
These examples align with PaulAos .
theory of narrowing, where an emojiAos original meaning is narrowed within a particular context through psychological adaptation.
The emoji, therefore, shifts in meaning through narrowing in the given examples.
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 Transfer of Meaning Paul .
describes Transfer of Meaning as a process where a word acquires a new sense through contextual reapplication.
This shift is often metaphorical and the word or sign goes beyond its literal referents.
The meaning usually shifts to convey emotional and abstract associations as shown in examples 7, 8 and 9 Example 7 AuAs we donAot know your identity, we canAot risk honoring your invite Ay Example 8 AuPlease tell him we want the remaining classes like this and forever Ay Example 9 AuRelax next time sit in front to share your opinionsAy In example 7, the emoji , which represents coolness, is used to signal ironic detachment from the message, and create a mocking tone.
The emojis oC and o which represent joy and crying respectively are used to show exaggeration.
This reflects PaulAos .
notion of metaphorical transfer, where the meaning of a word or sign is redirected to take a new function or meaning.
The emojis metaphorically expressed emotional depth.
The shift in meaning from the examples aligns with PaulAos .
theory that semantic change emerges from how it is used in context.
Amelioration Ullman .
defines amelioration as a semantic process where a word acquires a more positive or favorable meaning over time.
According to him, it is the elevation of emotive values, where words or signs with ordinary connotations are reinterpreted to show some elevation in their Amelioration is evident in examples 10 and 11.
Example 10 AuThank you all for your patronage during our last post Ay Example 11 AuVery inspiring, thank you Nana Ay In examples 10 and 11, the emojis are used to express gratitude, encouragement and emotional support, shifting from their original meaning of smiling, hands up, and prayer.
The emoji is used to show appreciation, shifting from the original denotation of hands up.
In the same way, the emoji shifts from smiling face to display gratitude.
The emoji also change from being a sign of prayer to indicate support and encouragement.
These changes support UllmanAos .
concept of amelioration, where the emotive value of each emoji is elevated to a more positive tone within the messages.
Pejoration Pejoration is described as a semantic process where a word undergoes a decline in emotive value, obtaining a negative tone (Ullman, 1.
Pejoration is not just a shift in tone but also a change in the evaluative meaning of a word.
Pejoration is seen in examples 12 and 13 Example 12 AuThatAos a real threat to have citizens who do not see security threat as serious Ay Example 13 AuTalk to us directly Mamavi stop hiding behind her Ay From the examples shift from their literal representation of joy and heartbreak to ironically represent a tease and critique.
UllmanAos .
concept of pejoration is evident in these examples, with how the emotive values of the emojis are reduced to serve ironic and critiquing Degeneration Ullman .
defines degeneration as a semantic process where the clarity of a wordAos meaning is lost due to excessive use.
With signs, the erosion of their meanings usually happens through habitual repetition, resulting in the loss of their emotional and expressive functions.
Degeneration is seen in example 14 Example 14 AuOur prayer time is ending soonuAy Published by English Lecturers and Teachers Association (ELTA) Copyright A 2026, authors Journal of Applied Linguistics (JoAL).
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 The u emoji, which is associated with vulnerability, is repeated within the message.
This makes it lose its Unicode meaning of vulnerability to act as an attention marker.
Dominant Semantic Shift Patterns across the Different WhatsApp Groups In addressing research objective two, a total of 268 messages across the six WhatsApp groups were analysed through the lens of UllmannAos .
and PaulAos .
semantic change theories, combining qualitative content analysis with descriptive statistics.
Further, instances of the semantic shift patterns were tabulated across the various groups to summarize them, while illustrative examples show each type of semantic shift pattern.
The table below illustrates this:
Table 1.
Frequency and Percentage of Semantic Shift Patterns across Different WhatsApp Groups Transfer Broadening Amelioration Pejoration Narrowing Degeneration Total Meaning Information22 16 .
Oriented .
Socialization 13 .
Academic 5 .
Student-led 7 .
Academic .
Business 13 .
Religious 4 .
Total 82 .
Group Semantic Shift Patterns Transfer of Meaning .
The results show Transfer of Meaning as the predominant semantic shift pattern.
This proves that emoji meanings can change to take on new symbolic roles different from their Unicode This pattern was predominantly evident in informal and playful groups to mirror how Generation Z creatively repurpose emojis.
The example below from the Socialization group illustrates Example 15 AuAh their coach he be twi teacher or what??oC His coat like oCAy This emoji oC appears two times, not for laughter, but as a mockery of the coachAos outfit.
This show a metaphorical and ironic repurposing of the emoji.
Also, in example 16, the emoji oa in AuAs we donAot know your identity, we canAot risk honoring your inviteoaAy is an indicator of an ironic detachment rather than coolness.
This buttresses UllmanAos .
assertion that meaning inevitably changes in socially patterned ways, thus, extending the application of this theory to the domain of As asserted by Zahra .
, the Generation Z cohort is characterized by the ability to creatively craft messages using signs and symbols.
Therefore, the pervasiveness of Transfer of Meaning explains how this cohort tend to often employ symbols to construct multiple layers of meanings and manipulate context.
This is an indication that emojis act beyond their Unicode meanings to creatively express complex emotions, a practice particularly typical of the Generation Z cohort during WhatsApp interactions.
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e-ISSN 2809-1922, p-ISSN 2809-1914 Broadening .
The results indicate Broadening as the second most dominant semantic shift pattern.
This is seen in examples where the meanings of the emojis are generalized beyond their initial meaning.
the Business group:
Example 17 AuWe are restocking todayaOeEAy The emojis aO and eE extend from celebration and dance to convey excitement about products.
In the Religious group, the example 18 AuThe fire of God is falling in this placeiuiuiuAy, the iu emoji is broadened to symbolize divine power.
Broadening is prevalent in expressive or promotional contexts, showing flexible, context-driven emoji use.
Similarly, emojis like Aa and esare generalized for emphasis rather than their literal meaning.
This asserts Carling et al.
Aos claim that semantic expansion is a natural result of frequent symbolic action.
Amelioration .
Amelioration appears in cases where the emojis are interpreted to express positive and uplifting Thus, in some groups, the emojis served as markers of appreciation, gratitude, encouragement or spiritual affirmation.
For instance in example 19, in the Student-led Academic group: AuWhat are you waiting for, make wild try your heart Ay.
The emoji conveys encouragement rather than romantic love.
Also, oO and oU are used to express gratitude and support in Business and Information-Oriented groups.
The results support NewmanAos .
argument that semantic shifts typically emerge in highly emotional contexts and AdogpaAos .
observation that the youth communicate in creative and emotionally expressive ways during online interactions.
Pejoration .
Pejoration reveals how Generation Z chatters twist emoji meanings through ironic and sarcastic Here, the emojis were employed as tools for mockery and criticism instead of expressing their intended meanings.
This is consistent with Stillman and StillmanAos .
observation that Generation Z typically use language in distinct and emotional ways, which could lead to negative Example 20 in the Information-Oriented group illustrates this: AuYou couldnAot come to class for a weekoCoCoCAy.
The oC emoji shifts from joy to ridicule.
Other emojis like o and ei were similarly repurposed for critique or mockery.
Narrowing .
Narrowing is seen in cases where an emoji like the uI was strictly employed as a confirmation signal to indicate a semantic restriction within localized discourse, as noted by Opoku .
example 21, oa in academic and business contexts signals politeness rather than prayer: AuPlease if you are not ready to make payment donAot ask for my momo numberoaAy Degeneration .
Degeneration mirrors the process of semantic bleaching as its repeated use weakens the expressive clarity of the emojis, thus, affirming ZaliznaikAos .
concept of semantic fading in overused symbols.
For instance in example 22 in the Academic Group illustrate this: AuYou even said Aofor the first time?Ay ,Ay The emoji originally represents coldness or freezing.
however, its repeated use within the context does not clearly evoke fear, cold, or shock.
Its repetition weakens its Unicode meaning to create an ambiguous tone which may be interpreted as disbelief, ridicule or ironic emphasis.
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CONCLUSION
This study examined semantic shift in emoji usage among Generation Z during their WhatsApp group interactions.
Using Ullmann .
and Paul .
as the theoretical backdrop, it sought to firstly identify the semantic shift patterns found in the use of emojis and secondly, to identify the dominant semantic shift patterns.
Using qualitative content analysis with descriptive statistics, six semantic shift patterns were identified Ae Transfer of Meaning .
2%).
Broadening .
6%),
Amelioration .
5%).
Pejoration .
1%).
Narrowing .
0%), and Degeneration .
1%).
This proves that emojis also experience semantic shift within digital interaction just like words.
The results show that informal and playful groups usually employ Transfer of Meaning pattern to mirror their creativity with the use of emojis.
Thus, they creatively use emojis to express complex pragmatic meanings such as sarcasm, irony, emotional expression and social identity.
In expressive groups.
Broadening semantic shift pattern is pervasive to extend emoji meanings for excitement or symbolic purposes.
Amelioration and Pejoration highlight positive reinforcement and ironic critique in emotionally or evaluatively charged messages.
Narrowing and Degeneration are rarely used, showing context-specific usage and meaning erosion due to repeated use.
This underscores the adaptive and flexible characteristics of emoji usage in real-time conversational situations.
The results also illustrate that emoji semantics is socially constructed and contextually dynamic, thus, emphasizing that it is not static but influenced by the chattersAo community of practice, conversational tone and socio-cultural trends.
This study adds to the growing linguistic research which recognizes emojis as key components of contemporary multimodal digital discourse, that can evolve metaphorically and pragmatically much like spoken or written language.
Semantic shifts in emoji meanings are expected to occur more rapidly and dynamically than conventional linguistic change as a result of the fast-paced nature of digital communication.
Therefore, there is a need for emerging scholarship to employ both qualitative and computational approaches to fully trace the multidimensional nature of emoji meanings and their temporal evolution.
Finally, there is a need to promote emoji literacy to minimize the risk of misinterpretations in digital REFERENCES