Phatic
Eleanor came across the term phatic communication and asked for some explanation.
Communication may serve various purposes — intellectual,
emotional, or social, for instance. Factual communication may be shallow at
times, but it is meant to provide information. Evaluative communication is
usually deeper; it conveys judgment or thoughtful opinion that goes beyond
merely discussing the weather. Intimate communication involves the exchange of
emotions.
Phatic communication is social in purpose. It is meant as an
icebreaker, a way to establish social rapport. It is small talk and often
employs clichés (How ya doin’?) but it
is essential in interpersonal relationships.
The term was established by cultural anthropologist Bronislaw
Malinowski in 1923 ["The problem of meaning in primitive languages"in
Ogden, C. & Richards, I., The Meaning of Meaning, Routledge, London.] He formed it from a Greek word
meaning spoken.
As Malinowski explained it, “There can be no doubt that we
have here a new type of linguistic use—phatic communion I am tempted to call it
‥.a type of speech in which ties of
union are created by a mere exchange of words.”
Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition
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