EMOJIS AND PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS IN ONLINE UZBEK DISCOURSE

Abstract

With the rapid growth of digital communication, emojis have become a universal yet culturally shaped means of expression. In online interactions, especially in instant messaging and social media, they serve as substitutes for facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. While emojis are often viewed as simple decorative icons, recent pragmatic research highlights their essential role in conveying politeness, irony, empathy, and other interpersonal meanings (Dresner & Herring, 2010; Danesi, 2016).