Phatic Speech (Noun)
Meaning
Conversational speech used to communicate sociability more than information.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- People often engage in phatic speech during small talk at parties, asking questions like "How's the weather?" or "How was your weekend?" to establish a connection.
- In many cultures, saying "Hello, how are you?" is a common example of phatic speech, as the speaker often doesn't expect a detailed response.
- When colleagues ask each other "How was your break?" as they pass in the hallway, they are usually using phatic speech to show friendly interest rather than seeking detailed information.
- In a casual conversation, someone might say "Wow, what a beautiful day today" as a form of phatic speech to establish a shared experience with the other person.
- Saying "Oh, great to see you" to an acquaintance can be an example of phatic speech, as it conveys a sense of friendliness rather than serving a practical purpose.