Tools Of Non-Verbal Internet Communication

The purpose of the article is to study the tools of expressing non-verbal signals when communicating on the Internet. The research methodology involved the use of general scientific and special methods of cognition: analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, system-structural analysis. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time information on the main tools of non-verbal communication used in electronic messages has been summarized, in particular, the role of font, color, text background, means of spelling, punctuation, and iconic printed symbols in the transmission of emotions in Internet communication has been investigated. Conclusions. The unit of communication in Internet communication is an electronic message, the meaning of which the interlocutors can convey by both verbal (speech) and non-verbal means. In conditions of a shortage of non-verbal means of communication, additional network tools that ensure the transfer of an emotional component in Internet communication are means of creolization (color, font, colored or illustrated background of the text, means of punctuation, spelling and word formation, smileys, emojis, emoticons, memes, etc., graphic design of verbal text, etc.). A special role in non-verbal Internet communication is played by iconic printed symbols, among which smileys, emojis, and emoticons have gained great popularity, which are additional linguistic tools for strengthening messages in Internet communication and by themselves are unlikely to become a meaningful means of communication between two parties. This in no way diminishes the value of what they can offer, first of all, the opportunity for every average Internet user to include feelings and emotions in the text in a new, specific way. Secondly, communication in the form of emojis, smileys and emoticons can also perform a cognitive function, sometimes replacing a verbal message. Keywords: communication, Internet communication, non-verbal communication, creolization, emoji, smiley, emoticon, meme.