Aaaaah, ahahahaha, aggggh...it's often hard to work out the sentiment behind some digital messages. Thankfully a website with a definitive set of rules for our digital ages has launched, explaining the intricate nuances of modern-day communication.

The Sound-Word index was created by two RCA graduates, Blanche de Lasa and Stina Gromark, and aims to help translate the emotions hidden behind our screens. As they explain, 'without the help of body language, words can often fall short in our digital conversations'.  The use of sound, volume, and rhythm therefore are the three tools by which emotions can be translated over the internet with their site explaining how to navigate this vocabulary.

Rhythm gathers together words in which meaning is emphasised by the repetition of several letters  or syllables (for example "aaaaaaaa" or "aaaaaaaaaa i can't wait to see you!") while Sound groups words in which the spelling alters the way would be said aloud (like "whoop!"). Finally Volume refers to words whose spelling characteristics infer the intensity of their sound, like "OOOOOOH!".

As well as the dictionary they have already compiled, anyone is free to submit their own for analysis. It's an interesting project which explores how to infuse our digital messages with an expressive and resonating language. Check it out for yourself here.