Pragmatic functions of whatsapp stickers in digital interpersonal discourse: a review

Edith González

doi:10.48204/j.guacamaya.v11n1.a11545

Submitted October 26, 2026

Published 2026-10-28

Artículos

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Revista Científica Guacamaya

Pragmatic functions of whatsapp stickers in digital interpersonal discourse: a review

Edith González⁺⁻

DOI https://doi.org/10.48204/j.guacamaya.v11n1.a11545

PDF (Español (España))

References

DOI: 10.48204/j.guacamaya.v11n1.a11545

Published: 2026-10-28

How to Cite

González, E. (2026). Pragmatic functions of whatsapp stickers in digital interpersonal discourse: a review. Revista Científica Guacamaya, 11(1), 261–273. https://doi.org/10.48204/j.guacamaya.v11n1.a11545

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This systematic review examines the pragmatic functions of WhatsApp stickers (digital graphic resources used in instant messaging communication) as multimodal markers that compensate for the absence of prosody in digital discourse. Following a qualitative-descriptive design, the paper analyzes how these visual markers facilitate irony, mitigate social friction, and reduce cognitive effort during interpretation. Based on pragmatic theory, the study synthesizes empirical evidence demonstrating that stickers are not merely decorative, but essential tools for conveying intent in digital interaction. Finally, the review exposes the conclusions yielded by literature analysis, identifies research gaps and proposes future lines of research on usage frequency in professional environments.

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References

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