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How to Speak Emoji
For anyone who doesn’t know a smiley from a big red heart, a thumbs-up from a toilet symbol, a poo from two blonde girls dancing - this is the first book that will teach you HOW TO SPEAK EMOJI. With a collection of useful phrases and a handy dictionary to demonstrate what the emojis really mean, you’ll never feel out of your depth again - or make the embarrassing mistake of putting an aubergine symbol next to a peach.Including sections everyday greetings, in the workplace, in relationships and asking for help and directions, as well as how to translate song titles and film quotes, this is your complete guide to the bright new world of the emoji.
- GenresNonfictionHumorReference
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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February 9, 2020
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[ Update 4/27/2018 ]
HERE
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[ Update 2/9/2020 ]
I only just found out that on Windows 10 the keyboard combination WIN + . (Windows-key and dot) pops up a dialog through which you can enter Emjoi-, Kaomoji-, and - most of all - some rather useful Unicode-characters into your text.
(⓿_⓿)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
April 21, 2022
Is Emoji a language? The author wrote that “Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein famously argued that natural language is comprised of games, where we learn the use of words through their usage and context in life, just like the way we learns the rules of a game by playing it.” Here he stated, emojis “may feel like a game, but we’re actually using them to convey complex meaning and nuance” as the rules develop. Britannica’s definition for language is “a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves.”
In a March 15, 2021 post by ALTA Language Services, “prominent internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch states that language is a fluid ‘open-source project.’ It is an ever-evolving construct that works when a message sender successfully communicates information to the receiver.” To date, linguists generally agree that emojis are not a language. While they are important in internet communications and dominate social media to express ideas, they do not follow a conventional system for messages to be successfully understood. They do not have grammatical rules and are subject to different interpretations. As further stated in the ALTA article, “they serve the unique purpose off adding levity and context to otherwise stale and easily misinterpreted online conversations.”
The author became fascinated with emojis upon discovering its creators, the Japanese, using them in 2008. He had to download a special Japanese iPhone app to access the keyboard. In 2010, he self-published Emoji Dick, where he translated Moby Dick. In 2013 the U.S. Library of Congress accepted it as its “first emoji-only book”, which he acknowledged that it “has been called everything from a tragedy to a masterpiece.” Only five people have rated it from one to five stars in Goodreads.
In this book, the author introduced very basic language tips and conversations and expounded with phrases for food and drink, nightlife, insults, weather, help and directions, travel, famous quotes, and more. However, without his translations, I would not have been able to able to guess much of what he was trying to convey. Some were obvious and cute, but others were not. While emojis can be great, words are better to convey, “Your computer has many viruses, please don’t send me any e-mail attachments.” or “I have many sexually transmitted diseases.” By the time you interpreted them, it probably will be too late. Why use 11 emojis for “A long, boozy lunch” or 28 emojis for the show, “Breaking Bad”? I was rolling my eyes at the inclusion of pickup lines of “I don’t have a library card, but do you mind it I check you out?” or “Did you have lucky charms for breakfast? Because you look magically delicious!” or “Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?” Groan.
Anyway, while I learned emojis can be used for anything and I certainly use them to convey an emotional response or for a laugh, I will not be using most of his emoji terminology. I’ll pass on his other book. However, one day, sigh ... I would still like to read Moby Dick. 3 stars.
In a March 15, 2021 post by ALTA Language Services, “prominent internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch states that language is a fluid ‘open-source project.’ It is an ever-evolving construct that works when a message sender successfully communicates information to the receiver.” To date, linguists generally agree that emojis are not a language. While they are important in internet communications and dominate social media to express ideas, they do not follow a conventional system for messages to be successfully understood. They do not have grammatical rules and are subject to different interpretations. As further stated in the ALTA article, “they serve the unique purpose off adding levity and context to otherwise stale and easily misinterpreted online conversations.”
The author became fascinated with emojis upon discovering its creators, the Japanese, using them in 2008. He had to download a special Japanese iPhone app to access the keyboard. In 2010, he self-published Emoji Dick, where he translated Moby Dick. In 2013 the U.S. Library of Congress accepted it as its “first emoji-only book”, which he acknowledged that it “has been called everything from a tragedy to a masterpiece.” Only five people have rated it from one to five stars in Goodreads.
In this book, the author introduced very basic language tips and conversations and expounded with phrases for food and drink, nightlife, insults, weather, help and directions, travel, famous quotes, and more. However, without his translations, I would not have been able to able to guess much of what he was trying to convey. Some were obvious and cute, but others were not. While emojis can be great, words are better to convey, “Your computer has many viruses, please don’t send me any e-mail attachments.” or “I have many sexually transmitted diseases.” By the time you interpreted them, it probably will be too late. Why use 11 emojis for “A long, boozy lunch” or 28 emojis for the show, “Breaking Bad”? I was rolling my eyes at the inclusion of pickup lines of “I don’t have a library card, but do you mind it I check you out?” or “Did you have lucky charms for breakfast? Because you look magically delicious!” or “Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?” Groan.
Anyway, while I learned emojis can be used for anything and I certainly use them to convey an emotional response or for a laugh, I will not be using most of his emoji terminology. I’ll pass on his other book. However, one day, sigh ... I would still like to read Moby Dick. 3 stars.
August 27, 2016
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thanks again*
Uhm, what was the point of this book?
Don't get me wrong: I love emojis and I use them all the damn time - I'm still waiting for a sloth emoji though - but this book was pretty pointless in my opinion.
The first chapter was basically an explanation of the most used emojis and what they mean - which is totally subjective but whatever.
Then the book actually started with a chapter called "emoji phrasebook", divided into parts like "idioms", "relationships", "insults" and "food and drink".
That was where I completely lost it because some of these combinations were too absurd to be even conceived.
Like, for real?
It's a no for me.
Uhm, what was the point of this book?
Don't get me wrong: I love emojis and I use them all the damn time - I'm still waiting for a sloth emoji though - but this book was pretty pointless in my opinion.
The first chapter was basically an explanation of the most used emojis and what they mean - which is totally subjective but whatever.
Then the book actually started with a chapter called "emoji phrasebook", divided into parts like "idioms", "relationships", "insults" and "food and drink".
That was where I completely lost it because some of these combinations were too absurd to be even conceived.
Like, for real?
It's a no for me.
June 20, 2016
Diese süßen, lustigen und unterhaltsamen Zeichen findet man heutzutage nicht nur mehr bei WhatsApp und deshalb hat Fred Benenson mit seinem "Sprachführer" über die zahlreichen Bedeutungen der sogenannten Emojis versucht Klarheit zu schaffen.
Die Idee fand ich total cool und deshalb habe ich mich auch gefreut, als mir eine Mail von BloggdeinBuch mitgeteilt hat, dass ich diesen Sprachführer rezensieren darf. Ich nutze WhatsApp täglich und setze auch gerne Emojis ein um meine Nachrichten bunter und freundlicher zu gestalten oder um auszudrücken was ich damit sagen möchte. Angefangen hat das Buch mit einer kurzen Einleitung, betreffend der Geschichte der heute so bekannten Emoji, gefolgt von einigen "Grundlegenden Tipps". Dann gab es ein kleines Emoji-Lexikon bei dem die einzelnen Bedeutungen der Emojis beschrieben wurden. Die Einleitung und die Tipps fand ich interessant, aber das Lexikon war für mich ein wenig überflüssig. Dass der Smiley mit der Sonnenbrille ausdrücken möchte, das es oder jemand cool ist, hätte ich auch so gewusst. Danach kam der eigentliche Sprachführer.
Der Sprachführer ist so aufgebaut, dass auf einer Seite mehrere Sätze zu finden sind und darunter die "Emoji-Übersetzung". Die Sätze ziehen sich über die unterschiedlichsten Bereiche, von Essen, Beziehungen, Nightlife über Zitate und Songs bis zu "Notfälle aller Art". Die unterschiedlichen Kapitel fand ich sehr interessant und auch die Übersetzungen fand ich sehr gelungen. Unterhaltsam und lustig! Das Buch hatte ich dann in knapp einer halben Stunde durchgeblättert und auch wenn es mir gut gefallen hat, werde ich es wahrscheinlich nur selten wieder aufschlagen.
Ein wenig gestört hat mich leider auch, dass das Buch so schwer aufzuklappen ist da sowohl die Seiten wie auch der Einband sehr dick sind.
~ FAZIT ~
Eine lustige Geschenksidee, für lesefaule Menschen aber kein Buch das man unbedingt in seinem Regal haben muss. Für einmal durchlesen fand ich es interessant und unterhaltsam , aber öfter werde ich das Büchlein wahrscheinlich nicht durchblättern.
Die Idee fand ich total cool und deshalb habe ich mich auch gefreut, als mir eine Mail von BloggdeinBuch mitgeteilt hat, dass ich diesen Sprachführer rezensieren darf. Ich nutze WhatsApp täglich und setze auch gerne Emojis ein um meine Nachrichten bunter und freundlicher zu gestalten oder um auszudrücken was ich damit sagen möchte. Angefangen hat das Buch mit einer kurzen Einleitung, betreffend der Geschichte der heute so bekannten Emoji, gefolgt von einigen "Grundlegenden Tipps". Dann gab es ein kleines Emoji-Lexikon bei dem die einzelnen Bedeutungen der Emojis beschrieben wurden. Die Einleitung und die Tipps fand ich interessant, aber das Lexikon war für mich ein wenig überflüssig. Dass der Smiley mit der Sonnenbrille ausdrücken möchte, das es oder jemand cool ist, hätte ich auch so gewusst. Danach kam der eigentliche Sprachführer.
Der Sprachführer ist so aufgebaut, dass auf einer Seite mehrere Sätze zu finden sind und darunter die "Emoji-Übersetzung". Die Sätze ziehen sich über die unterschiedlichsten Bereiche, von Essen, Beziehungen, Nightlife über Zitate und Songs bis zu "Notfälle aller Art". Die unterschiedlichen Kapitel fand ich sehr interessant und auch die Übersetzungen fand ich sehr gelungen. Unterhaltsam und lustig! Das Buch hatte ich dann in knapp einer halben Stunde durchgeblättert und auch wenn es mir gut gefallen hat, werde ich es wahrscheinlich nur selten wieder aufschlagen.
Ein wenig gestört hat mich leider auch, dass das Buch so schwer aufzuklappen ist da sowohl die Seiten wie auch der Einband sehr dick sind.
~ FAZIT ~
Eine lustige Geschenksidee, für lesefaule Menschen aber kein Buch das man unbedingt in seinem Regal haben muss. Für einmal durchlesen fand ich es interessant und unterhaltsam , aber öfter werde ich das Büchlein wahrscheinlich nicht durchblättern.
July 30, 2016
This was hilarious and so fantastic.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2017
review to come
August 19, 2019
Such a funny book! So glad I picked it up at a tag sale because I laughed out loud several times! Cute & clever!
March 5, 2017
Two lol moments, otherwise exceedingly dull.
The 'book' seems to be translated, as the emojis and their explanations frequently don't match.
Happily this was a novelty Christmas gift, so I've wasted no money (and precious little time) on it.
The 'book' seems to be translated, as the emojis and their explanations frequently don't match.
Happily this was a novelty Christmas gift, so I've wasted no money (and precious little time) on it.
January 8, 2017
'How to Speak Emoji' by Fred Benenson is a book filled with phrases in emoji. Kind of like an emoji phrase book. I found it pretty silly.
There is some explanation of what the emoji symbols are, along with some of the naughtier interpretations. Then the book spins into combining emojis into sayings and phrases, such as combining the emojis for frying egg + calendar to equal Friday. That's a simple one, but they get more complex. "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" uses 5. "A leopard can't change his spots" uses 9.
The author actually wrote an emoji version of Moby Dick, but that's not included here. Which is a pity. The cleverness wore out on my pretty quickly. These phrases would likely just frustrate your friends and family, unless they had a book to decode things. The brief history of emoji in the introduction was the most interesting part of the book, then it kind of went downhill for me.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
There is some explanation of what the emoji symbols are, along with some of the naughtier interpretations. Then the book spins into combining emojis into sayings and phrases, such as combining the emojis for frying egg + calendar to equal Friday. That's a simple one, but they get more complex. "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" uses 5. "A leopard can't change his spots" uses 9.
The author actually wrote an emoji version of Moby Dick, but that's not included here. Which is a pity. The cleverness wore out on my pretty quickly. These phrases would likely just frustrate your friends and family, unless they had a book to decode things. The brief history of emoji in the introduction was the most interesting part of the book, then it kind of went downhill for me.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
August 12, 2016
I do use emojis; I throw some face emojis, the arm emoji to show how good I'm doing. I enjoyed The Late Late Night Show with James Cordon's Emoji News segment, so I decided to give 'How to Speak Emoji' a try. And it boring. I don't know what I was expecting, but this is basically a book with an explanation of the meaning of some of the emojis, and then there are different phrases for different occasions presented in emoji. And that's it, it's not funny or anything. I guess it can be used as a reference to step up you emoji game, but seriously... just use words. No one has time to decipher your emoji-only message.
December 18, 2016
How to Speak Emoji by Fred Benenson is a fun book for those illiterate in this particular language. I am not "cool" enough to know all the lingo my grand kids email me so I thought this would give me an idea of what they were saying. It was a fun read. Although I knew a some of it, it helped me figure out what the lingo is and how to speak it and understand it. Won't they be surprised? It is in sections which helps, and goes slow for us beginners. Made a lot of sense the way the author laid things out. I thought it was a good teaching tool and he did it in a humorous way. Good job. I received this book from NetGalley for a honest review.
December 26, 2017
Interesting concept. After reading this book, I figured that we could use words instead of spending an awful amount of time deciphering emoji, and that made me wonder the point of this book. I'm sure some people will love it. It just wasn't for me.
Note - I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review in any way.
Note - I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review in any way.
May 31, 2017
This book got a couple laughs out of me. It is basically a description of how to use a narrow variety of emojis. There is not real substance to it and it does not cover appropriate use of emojis. It’s mostly just a collection of phrases and the emoji parallels. There isn’t much else to say about it because you can’t really explain style and technique from a book like this. The description makes it seem like it is more than it is.
January 22, 2018
This may top my list for dumbest book I've ever read. Either that or it is just a sign of my age.
March 28, 2020
Research. This was fun and simple and informative.
January 9, 2022
It was funny for like 2 minutes.
July 6, 2016
Step up your emoji game! Really cute and funny book from the editor of Emoji Dick, a translation of Moby Dick into emoji. With the help of How to Speak Emoji, you will be able to communicate completely in emoji!
It begins with a chapter on basic language tips to help make your own translations. There is more to emoji translation than literally matching words to symbols! The next section is the "Emoji Dictionary," which explains how individual emojis are used. Many are surprisingly versatile!
The majority of the book is the "Emoji Phrasebook," which will help you combine the individual emojis into complete sentences. The categories of the phrasebook are Basic Conversation, Idioms, Food and Drink, Relationships, Pickup Lines, Insults, Nightlife, Famous Quotes, Lyrics, Film and TV Titles, Help and Directions, In the Workplace, Technology, Travel, Medical/Emergency, Weather, Seasonal, and The Twelve Days of Christmas.
My favorite translations were the crazy complicated ones, especially the one for Breaking Bad! This would be a fun gift for the emoji lover in your life. It's a quick read and it made me laugh!
Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is September 6, 2016.
It begins with a chapter on basic language tips to help make your own translations. There is more to emoji translation than literally matching words to symbols! The next section is the "Emoji Dictionary," which explains how individual emojis are used. Many are surprisingly versatile!
The majority of the book is the "Emoji Phrasebook," which will help you combine the individual emojis into complete sentences. The categories of the phrasebook are Basic Conversation, Idioms, Food and Drink, Relationships, Pickup Lines, Insults, Nightlife, Famous Quotes, Lyrics, Film and TV Titles, Help and Directions, In the Workplace, Technology, Travel, Medical/Emergency, Weather, Seasonal, and The Twelve Days of Christmas.
My favorite translations were the crazy complicated ones, especially the one for Breaking Bad! This would be a fun gift for the emoji lover in your life. It's a quick read and it made me laugh!
Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is September 6, 2016.
September 5, 2016
This author rewrote Moby Dick with just emojis, so he’s the right person to do this book. This seems more impressive than the Peter Rabbit edition of hieroglyphs, but then it’s a lot easier to make an emoji of a whale.
This book starts with a dictionary, from the most simple onward. But by the time you get to the phrasebook and idioms it seems like more work than it’s worth. The pickup lines are the worst I’ve ever heard. . . wait, I’ve never heard a good one. Never mind. Insults, on the other hand, I can get behind. (That’s what she said.) The proverbs are fairly funny, reminding me of a similarly-themed book I had for Latin. Even better were lyrics, though I don’t know if anyone who likes Love Is a Battlefield will figure out that emoji chain. Eye of the Tiger, on the other hand. . .
But it’s the movies and TV shows section that’s the funniest, particularly Fight Club. Breaking Bad is novel-sized!
I’d imagine most people use emojis to emphasize what they’d written; this book is mostly about substituting for words completely. It’s fun for a while, but I wonder how many people would actually use it. . . well, I suppose if you cut and paste. . .
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
This book starts with a dictionary, from the most simple onward. But by the time you get to the phrasebook and idioms it seems like more work than it’s worth. The pickup lines are the worst I’ve ever heard. . . wait, I’ve never heard a good one. Never mind. Insults, on the other hand, I can get behind. (That’s what she said.) The proverbs are fairly funny, reminding me of a similarly-themed book I had for Latin. Even better were lyrics, though I don’t know if anyone who likes Love Is a Battlefield will figure out that emoji chain. Eye of the Tiger, on the other hand. . .
But it’s the movies and TV shows section that’s the funniest, particularly Fight Club. Breaking Bad is novel-sized!
I’d imagine most people use emojis to emphasize what they’d written; this book is mostly about substituting for words completely. It’s fun for a while, but I wonder how many people would actually use it. . . well, I suppose if you cut and paste. . .
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
August 31, 2016
I found this in the humour section of NetGalley but... I didn't find it very funny. The book had a very engaging title, but it totally didn't live up to my expectations.
Then again, I'm not sure what my expectations were for this book. I only know that I wanted to laugh.
So this is basically the kind of book you'd get if you plan to spam your whatsapp/chat groups with one of those "guess the meaning" emoji games. At least, that's what I think. Because after a short 'dictionary', where the most common emoji are explained, the book basically gives you the emoji equivalent for famous quotes, ways to flirt, and a few various other categories.
I guess that might be funny, but it just didn't speak to me.
It wasn't a total waste because I did get a few ideas I could use the next time I want to challenge my brother to an emoji-guessing game, but it wasn't the book that I was hoping for.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Then again, I'm not sure what my expectations were for this book. I only know that I wanted to laugh.
So this is basically the kind of book you'd get if you plan to spam your whatsapp/chat groups with one of those "guess the meaning" emoji games. At least, that's what I think. Because after a short 'dictionary', where the most common emoji are explained, the book basically gives you the emoji equivalent for famous quotes, ways to flirt, and a few various other categories.
I guess that might be funny, but it just didn't speak to me.
It wasn't a total waste because I did get a few ideas I could use the next time I want to challenge my brother to an emoji-guessing game, but it wasn't the book that I was hoping for.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
August 26, 2016
How to Speak Emoji by Fred Benenson is as neat as they come. I can definitely see this book being a hit with readers like me who only know basic emojis. After reading this book, I no longer have to forward texts to my son for translation.
**Advanced copy graciously provided by NetGalley and Andrews McNeel Publishing for an honest review**
**Advanced copy graciously provided by NetGalley and Andrews McNeel Publishing for an honest review**
July 10, 2016
I think I had expected more from this book. It is what it says in the title - a book full of sentences and phrases you can copy to speak "emoji" but what if you don't understand them and the symbols - fun idea, just not one for me.
Currently reading
August 22, 2016This book is really fun as it teach you to say a long paragraph but in a second and just by some simple and easy emoji. Emoji can really helps people a lot as emoji are small and easy to let other to understand.
July 6, 2016
Informative if your really old and don't know about technology.
Would make an entertaining coffee table book!
Would make an entertaining coffee table book!
September 4, 2016
Good for emoji
September 16, 2016
Interesting how we have a new form of communication through texts.
September 28, 2018
Loved it, the ambiguous meanings for wind!
A must for all teachers / parents as part of the survival kit as emojis get more and more complex and youngsters try to disguise their comments.
I've already started creating my own language with my husband much to the disgust of my niece. We can all join in having a secret language or understand theirs, much to their horror!
Can't wait to embarrass teenagers who think they are the only ones who can use emojis and baffle my parents! You're never too old! 🖖
I was give a free copy by netgalley for my fair and honest review.
A must for all teachers / parents as part of the survival kit as emojis get more and more complex and youngsters try to disguise their comments.
I've already started creating my own language with my husband much to the disgust of my niece. We can all join in having a secret language or understand theirs, much to their horror!
Can't wait to embarrass teenagers who think they are the only ones who can use emojis and baffle my parents! You're never too old! 🖖
I was give a free copy by netgalley for my fair and honest review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews