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HR2009-04
2009.04.27 Tsuchikawa
Do you use pictographs when you text message on your cell phone? What kind of messages is everybody texting? Well, this study has started by having such interest.
I have asked our registered web members to choose either of following themes, and text freely on their cell phones just like they normally do, and send it to me. By the way, the cell phone I use to received the messages is Softbank's 921P.
The number of respondents is 15 (6 males and 9 females).
You have come back from your ski trip with your friends today. Since you have enjoyed the ski trip so much, you decide to text message to your friends whom you have been with until just while ago, and tell them that you want to go again. (The message can be anything, but if necessary, you can use the following information. "Overnight, two days", "Shiga-Kogen" and "Hot spring".)
Theme 1 (Back from skiing)/ text message to your friend
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Ski was so much fun (heart mark) would love to go again (wave hand) Let’s take a break together and go again! |
Let's go ski again (thumb up) |
Ms. A (female 20's) |
Mr. B (Male 20's) |
Theme 1 (Back from skiing)/ text message to your senior associate
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The ski trip was enjoyable (star mark) I also enjoy talking with you! If you please, I hope we can go together again. Well, see you at work! |
I hope you are not too tired. |
Ms. A (Female 20's) |
Mr. B (Male 20's) |
You have a rendezvous with someone today, but because you have missed the train, you are being late for 10 minutes, so you want to text message in the train to the person who is waiting for you. (The message can be anything, but if necessary, you can use the following information. "Shinjuku (name of a town)", "Yamanote line"(train) and "oversleep".
Theme 2 (Being late for rendezvous)/ Text message to friend
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I'm sorrrry I overslept, missed the train, and may be late for about 10 minutes (sweat person). If you don't mind, will you go and wait for me at somewhere (trouble face) |
Sorry (person) |
Good morning (sun) I overslept (sweat) and just got on a train (train) I will be late for about 10 minutes to get to Shinjuku (apologize face) I am sorry (person) I will (email) you when I get there. |
Sorrrry (sweat) I missed the train (sweat) will be late for about 10 minute (person train person) |
Ms. C (Female 20's) |
Ms. D (Female 30's) |
Ms. E (Female 40's) |
Ms. F (Female 50's) |
Theme 2 (Being late for rendezvous)/ Text message to senior associate
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I am very sorry (sweat) I am on Yamanote line, near Shinjuku. I have missed the train and will be late for about 10 minutes. I am very sorry for the trouble. |
This is ...(name) Now I am in Shinjuku, so I will be late for about 10 minutes. |
Good morning (sun) Actually, I overslept, and just got on Yamanote line...It will be about 10 minutes late for me to reach to Shinjuku. Thank you very much (apologizing pose) and I am very sorry.(person) |
I have missed the train, and will be late for about 10 minutes. I am very sorry. |
Ms. C (Female 20's) |
Ms. D (Female 30's) |
Ms. E (Female 40's) |
Ms. F (Female 50's) |
It is time for cherry blossom season. You have heard that they will be prettier this year than the past. You are going to have a cherry-blossom viewing with your friends, and your role is to make contact to your friends. Text message to your friends and invite them to this cherry-blossom viewing. (The message can be anything, but if necessary, you can use the following information. "April 1st "Chidorigafuchi", and"15 people".)
Theme 3 (Invitation to cherry-blossom viewing) / text message to friends
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Seem like cherry blossom season is almost there (heart). Let's have a cherry blossom-viewing (cherry blossom) what are you doing on April 1st ? |
Cherry blossom season has "Cooooooome!" (Well-known comedian shouting) So, we would like to have an annual cherry-blossom viewing. Date: April 1st (Wed) (Image of a king and a cat toasting with beers) |
Ms. C (Female 20's) |
Ms. H (Female 40's) |
Theme 3 (Invitation to cherry-blossom viewing)/ text message to senior associate
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We are planning to have a cherry blossom viewing with staff of a company. If you don't mind, would you like to join us? It will be on April 1st at Chidorigafuchi . |
Since the cherry blossom season has arrived, we would like to have a "Cherry blossom viewing party"; with following content (beer). An active participation is required (smile) (Star) Date: April 1st (Wed) Please contact our party organizer, (name) about your attendance, as well as any question you have (bowing) . |
Ms. C (Female 20's) |
Ms. H (Female 40's) |
You are now on your way to home from work (school). You are mad because your boss (teacher) has scorched you for catch-22 kind of thing. Text message to your friend whom you think will understand this feeling.
(The message can be anything)
Theme 4 (Get scorched at work (school))
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It really sucks, today (angry face) As I was told to do so, I sent the documents out, but just because he wanted to include other things to those document, my boss told me why I didn't do any final check (angry birds) Should told me at the first place. | I just can't handle it. Wish he stop releasing stress on other people! |
I'm innocent (face), but was accused for god-knows-what (shocking face) It really is shocking (fist) (clover)Will you give me some time to listen to me (crying face) |
My boss accused me |
Ms. I (Female 20's) |
Mr. J (Male 20's) |
Ms. K (Female 40's) |
Mr. L (Male 40's) |
When compare with the messages to close friends, they tend to use less or none of pictograph to the messages to senior associates at work (school). Like the use of casual talk and respect language, it seems that switching purposely uses pictographs.
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Sorrrry (sweat) I missed the train (sweat) will be late for about 10 minute (person train person) |
I have missed the train, and will be late for about 10 minutes. I am very sorry. |
Ms. F (Female 50's) |
Ms. F (Female 50's) |
When look at the usage of pictograph as a type of language, for example, we can see that they are used in diverse roles as below.
Use redundantly with words
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just got on a train (train) I will be late for about 10 minutes to |
Ms. E (Female 40's) |
Use instead of words
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just got on a train (train) I will be late for about 10 minutes to |
Ms. E (Female 40's) |
Use at the end of sentence (instead of "."?)
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Ski was so much fun (heart mark) Would love to go again. (wave hand) |
me why I didn't do any final check (angry birds) |
Ms. A (Female 20's) |
Ms. I (Female 20's) |
Use at the beginning of sentence or at the break of sentence.
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I'm innocent (face), but was accused for god-knows-what (shocking face) It really is shocking (fist) (Clover) Will you give me some time to listen to me (crying face) |
Good morning (sun) I overslept (sweat) and just got on a train (train) I will be late for about 10 minutes to get to Shinjuku (apologize face) |
Ms. K (Female 40's) |
Ms. E (Female 40's) |
Use as expression of feeling
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I'm sorrrry I overslept, missed the train, and may be late for about 10 minutes (sweat person). |
Good morning (shining star) |
Ms. C (Female 20's) |
Ms. N (Female 20's) |
This time, I get the chance to see text message written to someone, which is not something we can normally do. I have been surprised with the fact that older people (more than 40's) also use pictograph commonly, but by thinking that people of these ages communicate with own children, it can understand that this culture start with children's generation will descend to parent's generation. Also, I have found that when text message to someone who is not very close, there are many people who are being careful about using the pictograph.
Since I often hear complains about compatibility of pictograph, I have researched on how the pictograph will change from sender to receiver, by using cell phones of different cell-phone company. Most pictograph will replace similar pictographs or emoticon or a word like "angel", which tells what the pictograph is, which at least can tell the meaning of the pictograph. However, when take the pictograph message as "a piece of work", I am not too sure if, the receiver receive what has been replaced things which the writer wants to express, is right...
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→ |  |
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→ |  |
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[Angel] |
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Sender |
Receiver > |
Sender |
Receiver |
Of course, those who load the function on e-mails of cell-phone are adults, but "pictograph" is what has been likely developed beyond their imagination, which is supported by young generation. There may be people who take it as too chatty, and feel odd or thing it is not emotional, however, isn't it wonderful that this culture is communication itself.
Created in 2009.05.29