One of the beauties of the English language is its ability to change and to accept new words for new ideas. That ability to adapt allows us to develop a precision not found in many other languages. But when it comes to the conventions of the written word, little has changed over the years. In fact, I can’t think of a single punctuation mark we’ve added in my lifetime (of 54 years), unless you count the interrobang (???!!!), which is not commonly recognized.
But with the advent of the internet has come the use of punctuation marks to make visual expressions such as happy :), sad :( and winking ;). And some of these have become transformed into actual faces. Even as I write this, my word processing program wants to change the punctuation marks into the little faces which have become known as emoticons. And I find myself tempted to use these symbols and emoticons in writing things other than emails and text messages.
I don’t know who started these new symbols. But their widespread use raises an important question—should the written word adjust to accept these as new punctuation marks? If punctuation is designed to clarify meaning and to add emotion to writing (what else is an exclamation point for, after all?), then shouldn’t these be viewed as a welcome addition? On the other hand, might they be inappropriate in certain circumstances? I don’t imagine I’d be too happy with a mailing from a court saying, “You have been summoned to appear :).” And does the emoticon go before or after the period? Inside or outside the quotation mark? And if the use should be somehow restricted, how do we do that? Ask Strunk and White for a ruling?
I’d love to know what others think about this issue. After all, it may just be the most significant change to punctuation in centuries!
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Emoticons....cutting edge thinking from Donohue is found in her provocative piece on why and how punctuation must evolve to meet the communication realities of today. Language evolves and so should punctuation marks. Donohue should expand her reflections in a longer article for the professional community in the English, Literature and Rhetoric Departments of colleges and universities. This is not giving in to the fashionable communications of today but recognizing the fact that people need ways to express themselves in comtemporary terms. Go for it!!!
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