Sticker Emoticons Used in LINE Messenger; A Semantic Study

This paper is entitled Sticker Emoticons Used in LINE Messenger; A Semantic Study. This study aims to identify and discuss visual, verbal signs and analyze the meaning and relationship between verbal and visual signs applied of sticker emoticon in the LINE messenger. The reason for choosing sticker emoticons is that they have great visualization that can present the human feelings in sending instant message as a media of communication. The data source was sticker emoticon from LINE group namely “SEVEN’ICHI”. In collecting the data, the method used is documentation. The data were taken from the screenshots of the messages using sticker emoticon. The collected data were qualitative analyzed based on the theories applied in this study, namely the theory of semiotics proposed by Saussure, and theory of sign proposed by Peirce. The data were presented in the form of table and description. The result of the analysis shows that there are two types of sticker emoticons found in Line messenger, big and small sizes. The difference of those could be seen from the size in which the big ones are created in the full body size while the small ones are only in the form of the heads.The signs consist of signifier and signified on verbal and visual sign. There were 21 verbal and visual signs found in this study, as well as Representamen, Object and Interpretant. In this study the sticker emoticons in LINE Messenger mean carry, happiness, sadness, satire, mental activities and physical activity. A sign cannot have a totally meaningless signifier or a completely formless signified and it cannot stand alone (Saussure 1983, 101; Saussure 1974, 102-103).


Background of the Study
Semiotic study is the study of signs and symbols as elements of language or other systems of communication. According to Peirce (Peirce 1931-58, 2.172) anything can be a sign as long as someone interprets it as 'signifying' something -referring to or standing for something other than itself. In semiotic sense, signs can take the form of visual and verbal such as images, objects, words and gestures. As technology develops, visual and verbal sign could also be seen through the application of emoticon in LINE messenger.
LINE messenger is an application that was created by Naver in Japan for instant communication on electronic devices. It can be used to exchange texts, images, video, audios and conduct free VOIP conversation and video conferences.
A popular feature of LINE messenger is its sticker emoticons, in the form of cartoons that can be sent along with messages. A sticker is a detailed illustration of a character that represents an emotion or action emoticons to convey humor or feelings that is a mix of cartoons and Japanese smiley-like "emojis". It contains word as the main element of the stickers to convey the meaning and message while sticker as visual sign offers the communication imagination, and mood. The theory used in this study is theory of semiotics proposed by Saussure, theory of signs by Peirce. There are several publications done about visual and verbal signs; Sayani (2012) with the study entitled "Semiotic analysis of Memes in 9gag.com", Pidada (2012) entitled "Verbal and Visual Message on Barack Obama Political Cartoons", Reza (2011) entitled "Semiotic analysis of the chatting activity signs (emoticon) on the yahoo messenger for the user"; these previous studies show us anything that contain visual and verbal signs that can be analyzed as a data source.
The readers have to know what are the meaning and relation of each sticker emoticon in LINE messenger, because Sticker emoticon in social media chatting can avoid misunderstanding of the sent message. However, it can also create misunderstanding because the sticker emoticon that has been used is not appropriate in the chatting. This phenomenon makes sticker emoticon in LINE messenger interesting to analyze because of its interesting visual signs and various set of wordings. Sticker emoticon can be easily seen in our smart phone. The data in this study were chosen for sticker emoticon in LINE messenger because they are related to their verbal and visual signs that support this study. From the previous studies there hadn't be sticker emoticon as data for the study, ISSN: 2302-920X Jurnal Humanis, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Unud Vol 22.3 Agustus 2018 most of them prefer to use advertisement, memes, caricature and so on as the data to be analyzed based on the semiotic theory.
Here, sticker emoticons are analyzed in aspect visual and verbal signs, meaning and relationship between visual and verbal sign. The visual and verbal sign of the sticker emoticon is very important because they are related to each other on delivering the meaning of the sticker emoticon in order to obtain the relation between verbal and visual sign and messages of each sticker emoticon.

Problems of the Study
a) What are signifiers and signified of visual and verbal signs applied of sticker emoticon in the LINE messenger? b) How are the context supports the meaning and relationship between verbal and visual signs implied of sticker emoticon in the LINE messenger ?
3. Aims of the Study a) To identify signifiers and signified of visual and verbal signs applied in the LINE messenger of sticker emoticon. b) To analyze the meaning and relationship between verbal and visual signs applied in the LINE messenger of sticker emoticon

Research method
The research method of this study includes the data source, method and technique of collecting data, method and technique of analyzing data and method and technique of presenting data. Each part of research method is explained as follows:

Data source
The data source used in this study is the sticker emoticons applied in the LINE messenger. This data were taken from the Group chatting called "SEVEN'ICHI" in LINE messenger. This LINE group was chosen as a source of data because all the members of this group are women and women who said to use sticker emoticon more than men do. Besides, all the members in this group know each other well so they are free to express their feelings or emotion using sticker emoticon as a media communication.
Sticker emoticons in LINE Messenger were chosen as the data source in this study because they are related to their verbal and visual signs that support this study. Sticker emoticons in social media chatting can avoid the misunderstanding of the sent message. However, it can also create misunderstanding because the sticker emoticons that have been used are not appropriate in the chatting; the readers have to know what the meanings and relation of each sticker emoticon applied in LINE messenger.

Method and techniques of collecting data
The data were collected using the documentation method from social media, LINE messenger. Documentation method means that the data were taken from the screenshot of the message using sticker emoticon. Several steps were used in order to collect the data. First, opening the application of LINE messenger and then opening room chat of group "SEVEN'ICHI", and reading all chats. Second, searching the message from the members of group "SEVEN'ICHI" that contained sticker emoticons; then selecting the message which sticker emoticon contained that could be the best representation for the analysis. Then, screen shooting the sticker emoticon already chosen. Lists of the sticker emoticon used as the data were observed carefully in order to obtain better understanding of it.

Method and techniques of analyzing data
The collected data were analyzed by qualitative and descriptive methods. It means that the data were analyzed by using deep explanation or description without involving measurement or statistics.
There were several steps taken. First, identifying and describing the signifiers and signified of visual and verbal signs applied in sticker emoticons in the LINE messenger based on the Theory of Semiotics proposed by Saussure. Next, analyzing the meaning and relationship between verbal and visual signs implied in sticker emoticons of the LINE messenger based on the theory of sign proposed by Peirce.

Method and techniques of presenting analysis
This study applied formal and informal methods to present the analysis. Formal method means that when the researchers are presenting the result of analysis they use the symbol, table, diagram and number. While informal method means presenting the result of analysis by using words and sentences and its purpose is to give explanation to make the readers understand easily.
In presenting the first problem formal method was applied to present the analysis by using pictures and table. The pictures were presented first then the table; the first table presented verbal sign and next the table presented visual data. The signifier is on the left column and signified is on the right column. Then, informal method was applied in this study for the analysis of the second problem. The analysis was described and explained descriptively in the form of paragraph under the table.

Results and discussions
There were two types of stickers found in Line, big and small size. The difference of those could be seen from the size in which the big ones are created in the full body size while the small ones are only in the form of the heads. In the analysis below, there are two theories used namely the theory of semiotics by Ferdinand de Saussure and the theory of sign by Peirce. Peirce's sign supports three components which are R, O and I. (R) is representamen or something that enters into relation with its object, (O) is object to which the sign refers, and (I) is interpretant which is related to and mediate between representamen and the semiotics object.
According to Saussure (1983:67), a sign consists of a signifier and a signified. Signifier is a form taken by the sign to represent what is being expressed. Signified is an abstract concept of what the signifier represents. The sign is the result of the association between the signifier and signified.

Table of Verbal Sign
Signifier Signified

Bella's hair is as great as wives
The sentence shows that the user admires Bella's hairs that are as wavy as the wave. It means, Bella's hairs are those types which kind of wavy yet beautiful.
The sticker emoticon combined with the text produces the whole meaning of the sticker itself. If we pay attention to the sticker emoticon and the text found in data 1; we are able to comprehend the meaning behind the sticker emoticon. The sticker emoticon above brings a symbol of hearts on both eyes which refer to falling in love with something. As we can see the sentence Bella's hair is as great as waves; it is something more than the dictionary meaning. It does not show the literal meaning of the sentence itself. This sentence refers to the waves as the symbol of beauty to the figure of Bella's hair.
According to triadic models by Peirce, the meaning of the sticker emoticon above can be seen from the relation between R (representamen), O (object), and I (Interpretant), so we can conclude sticker emoticon 1 has the meaning that the expression of the user who liked Bella's hair.
The verbal and visual signs in the data above are related to each other; a sign cannot have a totally meaningless signifier or a completely formless signified and it cannot stand alone. If we can see from the text it shows that the user praises Bella's hair but after putting the sticker emoticon, the meaning is different, it indicates that the user really likes Bella's hair.

Table of Verbal Sign
Signifier Signified

FELI'S LEAVE THE GROUP
This sentence shows that the user wants to leave the conversation so she leaves the group

Signifier Signified
This sticker is in the form of a man that rides a motorcycle in red colored, and used the helmet. There is the melody icon beside the head. This is the symbol of someone who is traveling.
R in the sticker above brings the icon of a man and also a motorcycle that refer to (O) riding a motorcycle, so (I) in (3-2) DOI: 10.24843/JH.2018.v22.i03.p03 ISSN: 2302-920X Jurnal Humanis, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Unud Vol 22.3 Agustus 2018 590 the sticker above shows that the user wants to leave from the conversation being held in the group. As we can see the sentence "Feli leave the group" refers to something that has a hidden meaning, because if we just look at the sentence it means that Feli leaves the group she joins. But the real meaning of this sentence is a joke from the user illustrated with the sticker emoticon itself. From the sticker emoticon it refers to someone who has riding a motorcycle. From the verbal sign, this sticker emoticon has the meaning of run-away because it contains the icon of motorcycle which illustrates appliance transportation for run away. The verbal and visual signs in the data above are related to each other. The verbal sign explains the visual sign in which the user wants to leave from the conversation that being held in the group chatting, she uses this sticker emoticon to express her feeling. Without verbal sign the visual sign here will have different meaning; it is based on the verbal sign it self. A sign cannot have a totally meaningless signifier or a completely formless signified and it cannot stand alone.

Conclusions
There are some points that can be concluded based on the analysis of the previous chapters. In LINE messenger there are two types of sticker emoticons found in LINE messenger, big and small sizes. The difference of those could be seen from the size in which the big ones are created in the full body size while the small ones are only in the form of the heads.
There are twenty one verbal and visual signs of sticker emoticon found in group LINE namely "SEVEN'ICHI" in LINE messenger, each of them consists of signifier and signified. After seeing the relationship between Representamen, Object and the Interpretant in general the meaning of sticker emoticon implied in LINE messenger are, happiness, sadness , satire, mental activities and physical activity. The sticker emoticons that are frequently used in LINE messenger are, smile, sad, happy, laugh, cry, sick, tired, sleepy, shock, angry, kissing and hug. Verbal sign is something which deals with text and words, while visual sign as pictures present the point of products, logo company etc. in matter of visual sign. The sticker emoticon in LINE Messenger has a good combination between the verbal and visual sign. In term of verbal sign, the sticker emoticon consists of some written texts (phrase and sentence), which are considered beneficial in conveying the meaning of the sticker emoticon. Thus sign supports each other to attract the audience's attention by presenting their interesting unity.
The relationship between Verbal and Visual sign found in LINE Messenger of Sticker emoticons are related to each other. A sign cannot have a totally meaningless signifier or a completely formless signified and it cannot stand alone. Each sticker emoticons in LINE Messenger have a different function according to the sticker emoticon itself.