UTR 51 : Unicode Emoji
►http://unicode.org/reports/tr51
Emoji are most often used in social media—in quick, short messages where they connect with the reader and add flavor, color, and emotion. Emoji do not have the grammar or vocabulary to substitute for written language. In social media, emoji make up for the lack of gestures, facial expressions, and intonation that are found in speech. They also add useful ambiguity to messages, allowing the writer to convey many different possible concepts at the same time. Many people are also attracted by the challenge of composing messages in emoji, and puzzling out emoji messages.
The word emoji comes from the Japanese:
絵 (e ≅ picture) 文 (mo ≅ writing) 字 (ji ≅ character).
Une perspective intéressante sur les #emoji
via @stephane ▻http://seenthis.net/messages/381979#message382381