A London language firm is searching for an emoji translator, potentially the first in their field.
Taking on what’s been called one of the world’s fastest-growing languages, the full-time ‘consultant’ will work out the challenges emoji-dom holds cross-culturally, while also compiling monthly trend reports.
Potential candidates will sit an exam that will test their knowledge and application of emojis.
According to Today Translations, who are advertising the role, the field surrounding emoji translation is largely run on software that’s “often insensitive to the many cultural differences in usage and interpretation”.
The add reads: “We are therefore seeking an exceptional individual to provide the human touch needed where translation software is inadequate – and to help us become the go-to translation experts in this area.”
Today Translations CEO Jurga Zilinskiene explained their need for an emoji expert to the BBC, stating that one of their clients had requested diaries were translated into emojis, but they were unable to source a specialist.
Emojis first came about in the 90s in Japan, growing in popularity around 2011 when Apple starting rolling them out with the emoji keyboard. And while you may think you know your way around the aubergine, crying faces and Easter Island statues, emojis have nuanced meanings in all corners of the world. Take the happy poo emoji – sometimes it’s used to indicate feeling generally shit, in Japan, ‘poo’ sounds similar to ‘luck’.
The job would initially be freelance, paid by the word/emoji, with the trend reports paid for by the hour in 2017. Given success, the role could become full-time. 30 people have applied so far, so get in quick if you think you can decode these texts like you do your pictogram-filled sexts.
