Phatic
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈfætɪk/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Phatic is an adjective meaning (linguistics) A phatic utterance.
Meaning
(linguistics) A phatic utterance.
More Meanings
- (linguistics) Pertaining to words used to convey any kind of social relationship and whose meaning is otherwise either deemphasized or absent.
Example Sentences
Dispensing with phatic chitchat, he began straightaway to tell the story of his “people.”
Some dialects of a language may use a certain term or phrase in a phatic way, even if other dialects don't.
Generally speaking, statements in WE are expected to be of a tautologous nature, thus fulfilling the essential phatic nature of speech.
You needn't be angry about the insincerity of shopkeepers' how-are-you greetings. Well-adjusted people understand that the question is phatic in the context and that that's usually no problem.
Word Forms
- phatics
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include plerematic, homiletical, lingual, phonetic, empractical, tonguely.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.