This is John Kennedy with another Postcard from Abroad from the University of Kansas.
Phone apps have become so common that you’d have to living under a rock to avoid hearing “There’s an app for that.” Well, now get ready to start hearing, “There’s an emoji for that!” Finland has become the first nation to create country-specific emojis. You’re probably aware of the heart emoji, but what would you make of a heart emoji covered in icicles? Or a playful looking horse with its tongue sticking out? These are two examples of the 56 emoticons created by the Finnish government to help explain their country to the world. Two of the more humorous are separate male and a female emojis designed to represent the Finnish word kalsarikännit, which loosely translates to drinking at home in your underwear, with no intention of going out. Now that’s an emoji one could raise a glass to!
With thanks to Katie Ashley from the KU Open Language Resource Center for this text, this is John Kennedy. Wish you were here.
