phatic
Merely making contact
Phatic describes speech that serves social connection rather than information exchange.
Greetings, small talk, and pleasantries are phatic: How are you? doesn't seek medical details, and Nice weather isn't meteorology.
The term comes from linguistics but applies broadly to communication that maintains relationships rather than conveying content.
Formal communication on subjects
- MalinowskiPolish-British anthropologist, ethnography founder
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
- communionProfound shared closeness
- backchannelUnofficial communication pathway
Common spoken greeting
- hiInformal spoken salutation
- heyInformal greeting or summons
- howdyInformal rural greeting
- goodbyeDeparting salutation
farewell · welcome · salutations · greetings · pleasantries · chitchat · g'day · aloha
Harmonious mutual connection
- connectionA joining or relation
- solidarityUnity among allies
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
sociability · cordiality · geniality · affability · warmth · friendliness · communion
Brief head tilt
- smilePleased facial expression
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- hugTight, affectionate clasp
wink · bow · fistbump · thumbs-up · emoji · emoticon · acknowledgment
Done with minimal effort
- cursoryHasty and incomplete
- hollowEmpty within
- emptyHolding nothing inside
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
shallow · surface-level · noncommittal · ritual · automatic · formulaic · rote · obligatory
Overused, unoriginal expression
- platitudeTrite, overused remark
- banalityTiresome lack of originality
- truismStatement needing no proof
- catchphraseSignature line of words
discourse
Formal communication on subjects
- MalinowskiPolish-British anthropologist, ethnography founder
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
- communionProfound shared closeness
backchannel · uh-huh · mm-hmm · yeah · right
hello
Common spoken greeting
goodbye · farewell · welcome · salutations · greetings · pleasantries · chitchat · g'day · aloha · salaam
rapport
Harmonious mutual connection
- connectionA joining or relation
- solidarityUnity among allies
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
fellowship · sociability · cordiality · geniality · affability · warmth · friendliness · communion
nod
Brief head tilt
- smilePleased facial expression
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
hug · wink · bow · fistbump · thumbs-up · emoji · emoticon · acknowledgment
perfunctory
Done with minimal effort
meaningless · shallow · surface-level · noncommittal · ritual · automatic · formulaic · rote · obligatory · insincere
cliché
Overused, unoriginal expression
phaticsubstantive
Having real significance
informative · referential · propositional · transactional · instrumental
phaticsemantic
Of meaning in language
denotative · significant · weighty · informational · discursive