On 3/7/2016 12:58 PM, Peter Constable
wrote:
I
know you’re not proposing anything and just providing info
for discussion. I want to make sure it’s clear to others
that there is no requirement for encoded emoji in Unicode to
provide comprehensive coverage (by any measure) of any
semantic or conceptual domain. So, if there isn’t any
raccoon emoji in Unicode, that doesn’t imply that there must
or ever will be a raccoon emoji.
Sometimes looking at semantic domains points out candidates to
consider. The ultimate reason for requesting another mammal emoji
would rest on the need to included in communications; that's not
based on the fact that it's a mammal, but that it has some other
significance (usually symbolic).
"mole" might fit that, if people found that communicating the
concept of a mole via picture was compelling. "Nutria" on the other
hand seems far-fetched.
So, that the moment, what David sent out, is simply what he
presented it as --- data.
A./
Peter
From:
Unicode [mailto:unicode-bounces@unicode.org]
On Behalf Of David Starner
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2016 8:56 PM
To: Unicode Mailing List <unicode@unicode.org>
Subject: Mammal emoji
Seeing
the presence of foxes
on the upcoming emoji
list, I remembered the
Audubon Mammals (North
America) app has
silhouettes of mammals
on the browse by shape
tab. So let's see if
they're covered:
Armored
Mammals (-): Okay, we're
off to a bad start. The
image here is sort of
porcupine-ish, and
there's two distinct
creatures under the
label, the porcupine(-)
and armadillo(-).
Neither of which are in
Unicode.
Bats
(N): In the new list.
Which is good; they're
sort of iconic.
Bears(+)
Cats(+):
Several varieties
Chipmunks,
Squirrels and Prairie Dogs(+):
Breaking down more than icons
the app uses, there is a
Chipmunk(+) emoji, no
Squirrel(-) emoji; that might be
an oversight. Prairie dogs(-)
probably aren't.
Hoofed
Mammals(+): Breaking it down more
Bison(-), Sheep(+), Reindeer (-)
(and that's sort of surprising),
Peccary(-), Deer(N), Moose(-)
(aka Elk in Europe), Ox(+)
(actually Muskox ... and I'm
pretty sure that's a distinction
Unicode doesn't want to worry
about), Pronghorn (-) (nor
antelope(-), or the actually
related giraffe(-) and okapi(-).
Probably covered by the unrelated
deer.) Boar(+), Horse(+)
Large
Rodents(-): Beaver(-), Muskrat(-),
Marmot(-), Nutria(-)
Marine
Mammals(+): Dolphin(+), Whale(+), Seal
(-), Sea Lion(-), Walrus(-),
Manatee(-)
Mice and
Rats(+): Mouse(+), Rat(+)
Opossum(-):
Otters(-):
Rabbits and
Hares(+):
Raccoons
and Their Kin(-):
Shrews
and Moles(-):
Voles,
Lemmings, Pikas, and Pocket Gophers(-):
Weasels,
Skunks and Their Kin(-): While a disparate group,
badgers(-), skunks(-), ferrets(-), weasels(-) and
wolverines(-) all have arguments for encoding.
Wolves,
Foxes, and Coyote(+): Fox(+), Dog(+), Wolf(+), Coyote(-)
So nine
icons out of the 17 have a reasonable encoding in Unicode.
To cover the set would need an armadillo or porcupine, a
beaver, a possum, an otter, a raccoon, a shrew, a lemming,
and a weasel or skunk. Beavers (O Canada!), raccoons,
ferrets/weasel (popular pet) and skunk (emoji uses abound)
probably have the best encoding arguments there.
(This is not an actual proposal, but feel
free to forward it on if anyone might want to make one. Just
a discussion of a set of icons in the reflection of emoji.)
Received on Mon Mar 07 2016 - 15:12:16 CST