Development of Yoruba based Communicative Gestural Emoji Contents for Digital Devices

Abstract

This paper articulates the prominence of communication in human society. It accentuates the role of information technology in transforming communication and interaction as it leverages on   graphic user interface of electronic devices to shape and drive user-centered contents. Emojis are expressive graphical characters that are used in text messages, e-mails, and social media applications. This paper explores the non-verbal communication system in traditional Yoruba societies. Gestural expressions are common medium of communication amongst the Yorubas. The paper also identifies the àrokò system (use of symbolic physical objects) as a non-verbal means of communication. The symbolic gestural contents were selected from some Yoruba novels as Ṣaworoidẹ by Akinwunmi Ìs̩ọ̀lá, Oṣùọlálé by Tẹ̀là Lasunkanmi and Igbo Olodumare by D.O. Fagunwa.  The selected Yoruba symbolic gestures are “Tàka òṣì dànù” (Snapping of the fingers), “Di òpó mú” (Holding the Pillar), “Fara ẹ létí” (Pull your Ear) and “Òṣùbà” (Skillful Interlocking of the fingers). Developed emoticon contents were evaluated on WhatsApp social media platform. Sampled population totaling 150 purposively selected amongst the Yoruba speaking populace of Lagos, Nigeria. The population of respondent are 150, constituting of 68 females and 82 males. The criteria considered in the design of the emojis were categorized into visual comprehension and visual rendering. The criteria were subjected to the opinion’s respondents who are of Yoruba origin. Respondents were purposively sample using an unstructured questionnaire on WhatsApp social media platform. The evaluation outcome indicated that respondents could interact and communicate with the developed emoji contents based on their Yoruba cultural background.