Smart Answers from Ask.com now provides search results for some search phrases containing non-alphanumeric characters, i.e. non-letter (A-Z) characters.

Ask offers a growing list of emoticons (aka smileys) that can be found by typing the smiley into the search box. The definition is provided in a Smart Answer box at the top of the search results page.

For instance, if you were wondering about this emoticon :-/ Smart Answers will tell you it typically means skeptical, uncertain, or wry.

Each of these new Smart Answers includes links to a dictionary for more emoticons and other net terms and a link to learn more about IM etiquette.

Ask is also building a set of Smart Answers for instant messaging shorthand like brb and rotfl.

See more in the Ask blog.