when-emoi-was-born-did-something-change Net Slang

Net Slang

When 'Emoi' Was Born, Did Something Change?

About this topic

'Emoi' is a slang term that spread rapidly on the Japanese internet, particularly on Twitter and blogs, around the mid-2010s. Derived from the abbreviation of 'emotional', it originated from 'emo' referring to emotional music or art, and became established as a word expressing emotions like 'heart-moving', 'poignant', or 'beautiful'. This question asks what happened to language communities and individual emotional expression at the 'moment' this specific word was born. It explores not just the addition of a new word, but the possibility that a new lens for verbalizing emotions was provided, changing how they are shared and even felt. It is a question that examines, through a concrete example, the power of words to 'discover' and shape emotions.

Conceptual positions
01 Linguistic Evolutionism

The birth of new slang is a natural evolution of language, adding tools to express emotions more precisely. The addition of 'emoi' made sharing subtle emotional nuances easier.

02 Commodification of Emotion

A critical view that the spread of 'emoi' packaged emotions into short, consumable forms. It points to the possibility that deep emotional experiences have been replaced by shallow 'like' culture.

03 Expansion of Shared Sensibility

The view that the birth of a single word made emotions previously confined to the individual shareable across the community. 'Emoi' became a bridge connecting lonely emotions to 'those who understand'.

04 Neutral Evolution Theory

The view that the birth of the word itself has no great significance; it's just a fad, and there has been no fundamental change in the language system or emotional perception. It's merely a matter of whether it takes root or is forgotten over time.

Talk entry points

  1. When you recently used the word 'emoi', what emotion were you trying to express?

  2. Do you feel that the way you convey emotions changed before and after the word 'emoi' was born?

  3. When someone says 'emoi' to you, how does it make you feel? Happy, embarrassed, or something else?

  4. If the word 'emoi' didn't exist, how do you think you would express similar emotions?

  5. Before 'emoi' became popular, were there words you used to express similar emotions?

  6. Do you think the birth of a single new word can change the 'way of feeling' in a community?

Conceptual tensions
Precision vsSimplification
Did 'emoi' become a tool to capture emotions more finely, or a simplification device that dismisses complex emotions with one word?
Sharing vsDilution
Does sharing the word connect emotions with others, or does the spread of the word cause the original depth to be lost?
Origin vsPresent
Whether one is conscious of 'emoi''s origin in 'emo' from music and subculture, or emphasizes its current use as net slang, changes its meaning.
Individual vsCollective
Does the word 'emoi' represent an individual's inner emotions, or is it a symbol shared by the community?
Presence or Absence of Change
Did something really change, or did we just gain a new word, with the essence of emotions and the depth of communication remaining unchanged?
Talk note

This theme is a space to think about the small revolution brought by the birth of a word. Rather than seeking a correct answer, let's explore together the subtleties of our emotions packed into the single word 'emoi' and the power that language holds.

Glossary
Emoi
Slang derived from 'emotional'. Refers to emotional experiences or expressions that move the heart, encompassing both positive and negative nuances. It exploded in popularity online in the 2010s.
Slang
Informal and creative words or expressions used within specific groups or communities. They carry unique nuances not found in standard language, are born rapidly, change, and sometimes disappear.
Verbalization
The act of putting felt experiences into words. The process of capturing emotions that cannot be verbalized through language, and sometimes the act itself changes the nature of the emotion.
Emotional Expression
Ways of expressing inner emotions outwardly, through words, facial expressions, actions, etc. Net slang has dramatically changed expression especially through words.
Internet Culture
The collection of unique customs, words, values, memes, etc., that emerge online. Words like 'emoi' are born here and flow back into the real world.
Community
A group of people sharing common interests or language. It forms the foundation for the emergence and establishment of slang and holds the power to determine the meaning of words.
Shared Emotion
The mutual recognition of an individual's inner emotions through verbal exchange with others. The word 'emoi' accelerated this sharing.
Talk prompts
Ice breaker

Please mention one recent event or work that made you feel 'emoi'. What was that 'emoi-ness' like?

Deep dive

If the word 'emoi' didn't exist in this world, how do you think your emotional expression and connections with others would have changed compared to now?

Bridge

When the other person says 'emoi', try listening while imagining what personal memories or experiences are hidden behind that word.

Further questions
  • Does the diversity of contexts in which 'emoi' is used reflect the diversity of emotions?
  • Are there words equivalent to 'emoi' in other languages or cultural spheres? How do they differ?
  • By putting it into the word 'emoi', are parts that cannot be verbalized being left behind?
  • Does the popularity of 'emoi' symbolize changes in young people's emotional expression?
  • What emotions do people who dislike the word 'emoi' hold?
  • What changes when AI starts evaluating things as 'emoi'?