Emoji enables us to better express tone and provide emotional cues; and in turn, our addressees are better able to interpret what the words are meant to convey. <br /><br />In 2016, New York's Museum of Modern Art added emojis to its permanent collection -- more specifically, the original 176 emojis, designed by Tokyo-based software engineer Shigetaka Kurita in 1999.
Emoji (original set of 176), 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita —
Emoji enables us to better express tone and provide emotional cues; and in turn, our addressees are better able to interpret what the words are meant to convey.

In 2016, New York's Museum of Modern Art added emojis to its permanent collection -- more specifically, the original 176 emojis, designed by Tokyo-based software engineer Shigetaka Kurita in 1999.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO
Given display limitations in early Japanese smart phone screens, Kurita decided to develop pictograms to make displaying information more effective.
Big smile (1999) by Shigetaka Kurita —
Given display limitations in early Japanese smart phone screens, Kurita decided to develop pictograms to make displaying information more effective.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO
Kurita's original emojis, licensed to the MoMA by NTT DoCoMo, now sit alongside works by Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
Bomb (1999) by Shigetaka Kurita —
Kurita's original emojis, licensed to the MoMA by NTT DoCoMo, now sit alongside works by Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO
Over 6 billion emojis are sent on a daily basis, with over 90% of the world's online community making regular use of them.
Cell phone (1999) by Shigetaka Kurita —
Over 6 billion emojis are sent on a daily basis, with over 90% of the world's online community making regular use of them.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO
In a long line of great Japanese inventions, from karate to sushi to the DVD, emojis may just about be one of Japan's greatest-ever exports.
Drink (1999) by Shigetaka Kurita —
In a long line of great Japanese inventions, from karate to sushi to the DVD, emojis may just about be one of Japan's greatest-ever exports.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO
While new emojis are introduced each year, the number of emojis available is vanishingly small compared to the range and complexity of vocabulary items that a competent native speaker possesses -- currently there are fewer than 2,000 emojis available on a smartphone near you.
Heart (1999) by Shigetaka Kurita —
While new emojis are introduced each year, the number of emojis available is vanishingly small compared to the range and complexity of vocabulary items that a competent native speaker possesses -- currently there are fewer than 2,000 emojis available on a smartphone near you.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO
Some see emoji as little more than an adolescent grunt but it fulfills a similar function in digital communication to that of gesture, body language and intonation in spoken interaction.
Typhoon (1999) by Shigetaka Kurita —
Some see emoji as little more than an adolescent grunt but it fulfills a similar function in digital communication to that of gesture, body language and intonation in spoken interaction.
Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc.© 2016 NTT DOCOMO