Languages: 
WSU RESEARCHER EXPLORES AFRICANISATION AND TRANSLATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA EMOJIS
In an era where digital communication is reshaping cultural landscapes, Sinoyolo Nokutywa's book chapter, "Africanisation and Translation of Social Media Emojis," offers an analysis of how African cultural elements are integrated into global digital conversations.
His work, featured in the book "African Languages in Practice," is an anthology on Translation Studies and Sociocultural Transformation that highlights the relationship between technology and cultural identity.
Nokutywa, a Languages and Indigenous Knowledge Systems Manager at WSU said: "Social media platforms are now essential communication tools, but many people, especially those over 50 years, struggle with the contextualisation and understanding of emojis. I decided to contribute by analysing emojis to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to people being penalised or dismissed for inappropriate use."
Nokutywa added that in the United States of America, emojis are used as evidence in the court of law which means they are part of the language that is still developing.
“The book chapter highlights how Africans are adapting emojis, translating their original meanings to fit the South African context. While these translations are gaining global traction, they originated in South Africa. These emojis have been used to create idioms and proverbs and for code-switching and code-mixing, where words are replaced with emojis, yet the message remains clear and understandable,” said Nokutywa.
Presenting this book chapter at the 25th International Conference of the African Languages Association of Southern Africa (ALASA), Nokutywa shared examples of the translated emojis.
“One prominent example is the eggplant emoji, which is often used as a euphemism for a penis. This usage can lead to misunderstandings and inappropriate communication, especially for those who are not familiar with this connotation,” said Nokutywa.
In the book chapter, he provides evidence of how the meaning of certain emojis can shift dramatically depending on cultural context. This translation process, according to Nokutywa, is essential for ensuring that digital communication remains inclusive and representative of all users.
At the conference, Nokutywa was also elected to serve as the Regional Coordinator in the ALASA board.
"I am deeply honoured to have been elected as a board member of ALASA. During my tenure, my goals include fostering the growth of publications in African languages and encouraging active participation from Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and Lesotho in the two boards I serve," said Nokutywa.
He concluded that his vision is to ensure that the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) is well-represented and engaged in the African languages conferences.
By Anita Roji
