Generally speaking, statements in WE are expected to be of a tautologous nature, thus fulfilling the essential phatic nature of speech.
Wikipedia foundation.
phatic — [fat′ik] adj. [< Gr phatos, spoken (< phanai, to speak: see PHONO ) + IC] of, constituting, or given to formulistic talk or meaningless sounds that are used merely to establish social contact rather than to communicate ideas [phatic… … English World dictionary
phatic — 1923, from Gk. phatos spoken, from phanai to speak, say (see FAME (Cf. fame)) + IC (Cf. ic) … Etymology dictionary
Phatic — In linguistics, a phatic expression is one whose only function is to perform a social task, as opposed to conveying information. [ Malinowski, B. (1923) The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages”, in: Charles K. Ogden / Ian A. Richards (eds.) … Wikipedia
phatic — /fat ik/, adj. denoting speech used to express or create an atmosphere of shared feelings, goodwill, or sociability rather than to impart information: phatic communion. [1923; prob. < Gk phat(ós) spoken, capable of being spoken (verbid of phánai… … Universalium
phatic — /ˈfætɪk/ (say fatik) adjective of speech used to make social contact, without necessarily conveying a particular meaning: phatic communication. {Greek phatos spoken + ic} …
phatic communication — noun conversational speech used to communicate sociability more than information • Syn: ↑phatic speech • Hypernyms: ↑conversation … Useful english dictionary
phatic speech — noun conversational speech used to communicate sociability more than information • Syn: ↑phatic communication • Hypernyms: ↑conversation … Useful english dictionary
phatic — adjective Etymology: Greek phatos, verbal of phanai to speak Date: 1922 of, relating to, or being speech used for social or emotive purposes rather than for communicating information • phatically adverb … New Collegiate Dictionary
phatic — See speech act … Philosophy dictionary
phatic — [ fatɪk] adjective (of language) used for general social interaction rather than to convey specific meaning, e.g. nice morning, isn t it? Origin 1920s: from Gk phatos spoken or phatikos affirming … English new terms dictionary
