Emoji Language Beginner Lessons

This lesson is part of a series that teaches the basics of the Emoji Language.

Lesson Four: Parting

More questions about when to meet again.

Text

Bob: ❔🔁👀➡️ 👆👆 👆👆 ⏩📆

Ann: ❌👀➡️ 👆👆 👆👆 ⏩📆

Ann: 🚶➡️ 👆 ↪️🎭

Bob: 🆗

Bob: ❕📞 👇 👆 🔜

Ann: 👍

Bob: 👋

Ann: 👋

Interlinear Translation

Bob:

❔🔁👀➡️

INT-again-see-FUT

👆👆

1PL[NOM]

👆👆

1PL[ACC]

⏩📆

next-day

Will we see each other again tomorrow?

Ann:

❌👀➡️

NEG-see-FUT

👆👆

1PL[NOM]

👆👆

1PL[ACC]

⏩📆

next-day

We won't see each other tomorrow.

Ann:

🚶➡️

go-FUT

👆

1SG[NOM]

↪️🎭

to-theater

I'll be going to the theater.

Bob:

🆗

OK!

Okay!

Bob:

❕📞

IMP-call

👇

2SG[NOM]

👆

1SG[ACC]

🔜

soon

Call me soon.

Ann:

👍

yes!

Yes!

Bob:

👋

bye!

Bye!

Ann:

👋

bye!

Bye!

New Vocabulary

🔁	adv.	again (also: to repeat sth.)
👀	v.	to see sth./so.
⏩📆	adv.	tomorrow
❌	pref.	not, negation prefix
🚶	v.	to go, to walk
↪️	pref.	to, towards
🎭	n.	theater, play (also: to play a role)
🆗	interj.	okay!
❕	pref.	imperative prefix
📞	v.	to call so. (on the phone etc.) (also: phone call)
🔜	adv.	soon
👍	interj.	yes!

Explanation

The interrogative emoji (❔) can also be used to form yes-no questions by placing them before the verb (that is, at the very beginning of the sentence). Just like with other questions, the word order remains the same.

As you can see in the example, adverbs can be used to modify the meaning of verbs by placing them directly before the verb (without spacing), in this case "again" (🔁). The exception are adverbs of time, which always appear the end of a sentence, such as "tomorrow" (⏩📆).

Statements can be negated by placing the negation prefix (❌) in front of the verb. This works after yes-no questions as in the example, but also independently. As with questions, word order doesn't change when a sentence is negated.

Similarly, imperative sentences (commands) can be formed by placing the imperative prefix (❕) in front of the verb. Word order stays the same and commands must be complete sentences, meaning that the subject of a command – often "you" (👇 or 👇👇) – cannot be left out.

Exercise

Ask your partner if they have been to specific cities in the past. Use 🚶 and ↪️ with flag spelling when forming the questions. Respond to each other positively or negatively (❌).
Instruct your partner to buy falafels at the store tomorrow. Use the imperative prefix (❕).

View the solutions to the exercises or continue with the ⏩ next lesson.