The term "September 11th emoji" functions as a noun phrase. The core part of speech is the noun "emoji," which is modified by the proper noun "September 11th" acting as an adjective or noun adjunct. The phrase does not refer to a single, officially designated emoji character but rather to a collection of existing emojis that users combine to represent or commemorate the events of September 11, 2001.
There is no specific emoji for this event approved by the Unicode Consortium, the body that standardizes emojis. This is consistent with the general practice of avoiding the creation of official symbols for specific historical tragedies due to their sensitive nature and potential for misinterpretation. Consequently, users create meaning through semantic combinations of available characters. Commonly used emojis in this context include the American flag () to signify patriotism and national mourning, the twin building emojis () to represent the World Trade Center, the airplane emoji (), the praying hands emoji () or candle () for remembrance, and the broken heart emoji () to express sorrow.
The use of these emoji combinations is an act of digital commemoration and a form of vernacular visual language. It demonstrates how users adapt a limited, standardized set of symbols to discuss complex and somber topics for which no dedicated pictograph exists. Analyzing these user-generated combinations provides insight into collective memory, digital grieving practices, and the semiotic evolution of online communication in response to significant historical events.
