Emojis①：a new language?
While waiting outside the cafeteria②， I received the following message from my friend：
It took me a minute [1]before I realised what it meant.The signs③ [2]he used were to say that he'd be running late and would be there soon.Instead of replying with a simple “OK, don't rush④”， I searched for emojis on my phone [3]that would express the same message：
[1]before引导时间状语从句；what引导宾语从句。
[2]he used为定语从句，修饰名词signs，从句省略了关系代词that或which。
[3]that引导定语从句，修饰名词emojis。
This was my attempt to follow the trend⑤ of communicating with emojis.Emojis are used everywhere, from text messages to emails, blogs and other social media networks.With the rapid development of social media, emojis are becoming an integral⑥ component⑦ of the language [4]we use to express ourselves.
[4]本句为定语从句，修饰the language，从句省略关系代词that或which。
The word “emoji” comes from Japanese, literally⑧ meaning “picture character”．Emojis are small symbols [5]representing ideas, emotions or feelings.They come in different categories⑨， such as faces and people, plants and animals, and food and drink.
[5]现在分词短语作定语，修饰small symbols。
[6]When first introduced in Japan in 1999, emojis were limited to⑩ 176 simple designs.Now there are more than 3,000 emojis [7]that expand? upon the way in which we communicate.Due to their popularity, the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2015 was, for the first time? ever, a pictograph?
instead of a traditional word.
[6]本句为时间状语从句的省略形式，when后省略了主语和系动词emojis were。
[7]that引导定语从句，修饰名词emojis；in which引导定语从句，修饰the way。
In today's world, emojis have become more and more popular.[8]It seems that emojis have clear advantages over? written language. People like them because they add emotional? meaning, and are quick and easy to use.In fact, this is similar to the gestures? [9]we use when we speak.[10]With a smiling or sad face added to a message or post, your reader can “see” your facial? expression while reading your words.Emojis can also help people express their feelings when they cannot find the appropriate words.For instance, if your friend is moving across the country, you may just send them a string of? crying faces [11] to express your sadness over your separation.
[8]It作形式主语，that从句作真正的主语。
[9]we use为定语从句，修饰the gestures，从句省略了关系代词that或which。
[10]本句为with复合结构。
[11]动词不定式短语作目的状语。
