Neil: In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.
Feifei: 英语是一种十分程式化的语言，所以知道现实日常大家常常用的固定表达和俚语自然就非常有用了。
Neil: Today's word is emoticon.
Feifei: What?
Neil: Emoticon.
Feifei: Don't know what that is.
Neil: Oh yes you do Feifei. Lets look at the current definition. An emoticon is a symbol or combination of symbols to convey emotional content in written or message form.
Feifei: Well, I'm still not sure. Emoticon 大家可以叫它表情符号或者表情符，就是把一些字母和符号放在一块做成的表情成效。譬如说大家在邮件和短信当中常常用到的微笑表情 smiley faces, 或者嘴角下弯的沮丧表情，都是用引号、分号和括号如此的符号而组成的。 Are we talking about smiley faces Neil?
Neil: Yes, we're talking about the little yellow faces we can send in emails and instant messaging systems that express our emotions we call those emoticons.
Feifei: It's not just smiley faces though is it Neil?
Neil: No, you can use brackets1.
Feifei: 括号。
Neil: Dashes.
Feifei: 破折号。
Neil: And colons2.
Feifei: 冒号。
Neil: To make smiley or sad faces. These are also emoticons.
Feifei: 让大家听听下面这两个人对有关表情符号所作的对话。
Example
A: You know I always find it difficult to really express my emotions when Im sending an instant message.
B: Well, why dont you use those emoticons more?
A: I could, yes, but I'm never really sure if they show the right emotion that I want to express.
B: Well, there are quite a lot of emoticons you can use: happy, sad, feeling mad! They express a lot of emotions.
A: Ok then, I'll have a go!
Neil: So Feifei, are you a fan of the emoticon?
Feifei: Yes, I like them actually. There's quite a bit of variety and you can express your emotions quite clearly when you are messaging someone, its nearly as good as talking to them for real!
Neil: Well, I wouldn't say that there's no way you can express your emotions in an emoticon Feifei!
Feifei:
Feifei: No, I disagree, I think they're great!
Neil: Well, we can't spend any more time arguing join us soon for more Real English.
Feifei: Bye.
