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10 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About The History Of Emojis

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Anyone who has ever engaged in an online conversation knows that there’s an important element missing that can easily lead to misunderstandings: nuance. When we are talking, we use tonality and facial expressions to convey an important part of the meaning of what we are communicating. Emojis come to save the day, adding color, emotion, and much-needed nuance to our text-based conversations.

But where did these tiny pictographs come from, and how did they evolve into the diverse set we use today? Let's take a journey through the history of emojis and uncover some fascinating facts along the way.

Image: Jezael Melgoza

Emojis originated in Japan in the late 1990s, a graphical evolution from their punctuation mark-based predecessors, the emoticons. Contrary to popular belief, their name does not stem from the word emotion (like emoticons) but from the combination of the Japanese words for "picture" (e) and "character" (moji). The first set of emojis - consisting of 90 icons - was created in 1997 by SoftBank, a Japanese mobile carrier.

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In 2010, emojis gained global recognition when they were standardized by the Unicode Consortium, allowing them to be used across different platforms and devices. This standardization ensured that emojis would display consistently, regardless of the operating system or application.

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While emojis initially began with simple smiley faces and expressions, they have evolved to encompass a wide range of symbols, objects, animals, and even flags representing different countries. Today, there are over 3,000 emojis available, offering users a diverse palette for expressing themselves.

Image: Kelvin Yan

Emojis have transcended linguistic and cultural barriers, becoming a universal language of sorts. In recognition of their influence, in 2015 Oxford Dictionaries named the U+1F602 (😂) emoji, known as "face with tears of joy," the Word of the Year. From the United States to China, people around the world have incorporated emojis into their digital communication seamlessly, adding a layer of emotional context to their messages.

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In recent years, there has been a push for more inclusive emojis, leading to the introduction of gender-neutral options and diverse skin tones. In particular, skin tones in emojis are based on the Fitzpatrick scale for classifying human skin color, a scale designed to estimate the effects of UV light on different types of skin. When no modifier is selected, emojis are often set to the default, non-realistic, Simpson-esque yellow.

Image: Bernard Hermant

Emojis don't just convey emotions; they reflect cultural trends and internet phenomena. Furthermore, linguists believe that as they continue to grow and develop, true emoji "dialects" will arise. And while many emoji have acquired almost standardized meanings, we could easily argue that it is already happening, as small groups of people tend to interpret and use emoji in quite different ways.

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July 17th is celebrated as World Emoji Day, commemorating the date originally displayed on Apple’s calendar emoji (📅). Although an unofficial holiday, the festivity remains a testament to the widespread popularity and cultural impact of emojis, with events and activities held around the world to mark the occasion.

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According to linguists, emoji do not necessarily carry their own fixed meaning but rather act as a paralanguage, adding meaning to text. This can lead to all sorts of communication problems as emojis are translated between different cultural settings or even between different platforms. Even a seemingly universal emoji like the smiling face can convey a meaning apparently opposite to its intended meaning.

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Emojis have even found their way into legal proceedings, with courts grappling with the interpretation and admissibility of emojis as evidence. In some cases, emojis have been used to clarify the intent behind messages or to establish a timeline of events. However, the meaning of emojis can be easily misconstrued, as their interpretation often varies from user to user. For example, in a 2004 case regarding alleged industrial espionage, an email that referred to a "spy" within one of the involved companies was dismissed as evidence of criminal intent due to the usage of a smiley face emoji, suggesting it was a playful comment rather than a serious message.

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Emojis have fundamentally changed the way we communicate in the digital age, even influencing the way we think. Psychologists have found that emojis can activate the same brain regions that are responsible for processing emotions. Also, they effectively change how messages are read and perceived, sometimes helping to soften or emphasize the information. In a highly visual world, emojis seem to be a highly successful addition to our written language, making communication faster and more efficient regardless of the medium.

Add a dash of Deutsch!

Can English borrow these 10 wonderful German words already?

Image: Wilhelm Gunkel

It’s no secret that German has some fantastic words that don’t exist in English—words that capture experiences we often struggle to put into words. With its knack for combining vivid imagery and down-to-earth practicality, the German language has created expressions for everything from the peace of a quiet forest to the weight gain after a bad breakup.

For all of us who love language, here are 10 wonderful German words that might deserve a place in English, if only for how perfectly they capture familiar situations. So, grab a cup of coffee (or perhaps a bit of Kummerspeck), and let’s explore these German expressions.

Image: Luis Del Río Camacho

Imagine yourself surrounded by trees, breathing in the fresh air, with nothing but the rustling leaves for company—that’s Waldeinsamkeit. It’s not just about being alone in the woods; it’s the peace and clarity that nature brings when we step away from the world.

This word made its way to America through writers like Emerson, who found inspiration in such moments of solitude. For nature lovers, you’ll know exactly what we mean—when the noise of the world fades and you’re left with just your thoughts, you’ve entered the realm of Waldeinsamkeit. And who doesn’t need a bit of that?

Image: Haley Phelps

Have you ever felt tempted to skip your responsibilities and just take a day off? We all have—that’s the spirit of blaumachen, which means taking a day off for no particular reason. The literal translation is "make blue," originating from the German tradition of relaxing on "Blue Monday" after the weekend.

While we might call it "playing hooky," which refers to skipping school or work, blaumachen is more about the freedom of enjoying a day without a set agenda. Germans sometimes associate it with relaxation—a chance to recharge rather than be productive. We all need a blaumachen once in a while, especially after a busy week. And if you combine blaumachen with Waldeinsamkeit, you’ll truly get a fresh start!

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Daydreamers, this one’s for you. Luftschlösser bauen literally translates to "building castles in the air," and it’s what we do when we dream about grand plans or ideas with no real way to pull them off.

Germans consider these "air castles" impractical but harmless. After all, they provide a pleasant mental escape. In English, we might say "pipe dream," but that doesn’t quite capture the whimsy of a Luftschloss. Even if the castle remains in the clouds, sometimes the act of dreaming is rewarding enough.

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You know when you’re having a drink and suddenly come up with the perfect solution—only to realize the next day that it wasn’t so brilliant after all? Well, that’s a Schnapsidee, which literally means an "alcohol idea."

This word perfectly describes those ideas that seem genius in the moment but don’t hold up in the light of day. Germans associate it with the creativity (or lack thereof, let’s be honest) that comes after a few drinks. The idea itself might not be your best, but you can’t deny it makes for a great excuse to laugh off those silly mistakes we all make from time to time.

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If the concepts above weren’t quite up your alley, here’s a word that might come in handy: Drachenfutter, or "dragon food." How can this be useful?

Well, this word refers to an apology gift for a loved one—something you offer to smooth things over, often after a mistake (or a Schnapsidee!). Think of bringing home flowers or chocolates to keep the peace—that’s Drachenfutter.

The term is playful, likening the person you’re apologizing to a "dragon" whose anger needs to be soothed. Just don’t call them a dragon to their face! When words fail, a little Drachenfutter can go a long way.

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Ever tried to fix something and ended up making it worse? Then you know Verschlimmbesserung, a word that combines "worse" and "improvement."

This term perfectly describes those well-intentioned efforts that accidentally backfire. Maybe you tried solving a friend’s problem only to make an even bigger mess—classic Verschlimmbesserung. The English word "disimprovement" comes close, but it doesn’t quite capture the same idea.

Germans use Verschlimmbesserung as a reminder that not every change is for the better. Sometimes, the best improvement is knowing when to leave things alone.

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We’re all familiar with the concept of "small talk," but this isn’t quite the same. If you’ve ever been told to "stop babbling," you’ve experienced quatschen, a German word for mindless chatter.

Often used by teachers to quiet classrooms, quatschen refers to talk that isn’t about substance—it’s more about filling the air. Some say the word comes from the sound of mud squishing, and in the form Quatsch!, it works as an interjection, similar to saying "nonsense!" in English.

We all enjoy some idle gossip or pointless chatter now and then, and quatschen gets the point across. A little quatschen can be fun, but too much of it, and you might be better off enjoying some Waldeinsamkeit.

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Who hasn’t found comfort in the fridge when feeling down? A forgotten slice of pizza or an unexpected chocolate bar can instantly brighten up our days. That’s Kummerspeck, which translates to "grief bacon." Funny, right? It refers to the weight gained from eating through tough times.

In English, we don’t have an exact term for it, though we can all relate to the experience. The Germans combine Kummer (grief) and Speck (bacon or fat) to create a word that’s both humorous and relatable.

While it might not be the healthiest coping mechanism, a little Kummerspeck never hurt anyone. Just balance it out with a walk in the woods for some Waldeinsamkeit, and you’ll be fine.

Image: Yuris Alhumaydy

There are days when the weight of the world feels overwhelming, and the word Weltschmerz sums it up perfectly. It means "world pain," which feels like an accurate description, doesn’t it?

This word gained popularity among Romantic writers who felt that the limits of life clashed with their dreams. It’s not just about personal sadness—it’s a more universal feeling. Weltschmerz captures the deep weariness of realizing that things aren’t quite as they should be.

Though it’s not exactly a cheerful concept, there’s comfort in having a word for this feeling—and in knowing that, even if it’s in German, everyone understands it.

Image: Julia Taubitz

Speaking of universal feelings, let’s close this article with a word that perfectly captures an experience we’ve all had. Can you think of a time when someone did something so cringeworthy or embarrassing that you felt uncomfortable on their behalf? That’s _Fremdschämen_—a German word that refers to secondhand embarrassment.

It combines fremd (someone else’s) and schämen (to be ashamed), describing that unbearable feeling of wanting to hide from an embarrassing situation that isn’t even yours.It’s painfully accurate, and just writing (or reading, in your case) about it can make one uncomfortable.

Now, don’t overthink it—we’ve all been there. And if you can’t recall a time when you’ve felt Fremdschämen, well… you might be the one causing it! But hey, who hasn’t?