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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Lip service
I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention.
eg Someone goes off to a job interview and you wish them good luck, even though you don't really know what, precisely, luck is, apart, in this context, to well wishing. Someone says merry christmas to you and you say merry christmas back, even though you think the whole thing is intellectually dubious, but believe that that's what convention demands. Someone says "how are you" and you respond "fine" regardless of your condition.
I'm sure there's a word or phrase for this (apart from social hypocrisy, cant or something else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.
Berko60
eg Someone goes off to a job interview and you wish them good luck, even though you don't really know what, precisely, luck is, apart, in this context, to well wishing. Someone says merry christmas to you and you say merry christmas back, even though you think the whole thing is intellectually dubious, but believe that that's what convention demands. Someone says "how are you" and you respond "fine" regardless of your condition.
I'm sure there's a word or phrase for this (apart from social hypocrisy, cant or something else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.
Berko60
Top answer
[nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention. eg Someone goes ... [/nq] "Formulaic".
- [nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention.
- eg Someone goes ...
- [/nq] "Formulaic".
- net /
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21 Answers
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[nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention. eg Someone goes ... phrase for this (apart from social hypocrisy, cant or something else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
"Formulaic".
Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laboratories >Your claim might have more
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >credibility if
"Formulaic".
Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laboratories >Your claim might have more
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >credibility if
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[nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention. (snip) I'm sure there's a word or phrase for this (apart from social hypocrisy, cant or something else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
A branch of linguistics likes to discuss how
the "locution" does not necessarily match the
"illocutionary force."
In o
A branch of linguistics likes to discuss how
the "locution" does not necessarily match the
"illocutionary force."
In o
00
[nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention.[/nq]
platitude; pleasantry
Adrian
platitude; pleasantry
Adrian
00
(PPNNCSAFL)
}
}> I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered }> purely to conform to some convention.
}>
}> eg Someone goes off to a job interview and you wish them good luck, }> even though you don't really know what, precisely, luck is, apart, }> in this context, to well wishing. Someone says merry christmas to }> you and you say merry
}
}> I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered }> purely to conform to some convention.
}>
}> eg Someone goes off to a job interview and you wish them good luck, }> even though you don't really know what, precisely, luck is, apart, }> in this context, to well wishing. Someone says merry christmas to }> you and you say merry
00
[nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention. eg Someone goes ... phrase for this (apart from social hypocrisy, cant or something else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
Social convention(s).
You're right that it's not lip service. It's similar but lip service relates to more important things, or something li
Social convention(s).
You're right that it's not lip service. It's similar but lip service relates to more important things, or something li
00
[nq:1]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention. eg Someone goes ... phrase for this (apart from social hypocrisy, cant or something else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
Phatic communication. From M-W:
Main Entry: phat=B7ic=20
Pronunciation: 'fa-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek phatos, ver
Phatic communication. From M-W:
Main Entry: phat=B7ic=20
Pronunciation: 'fa-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek phatos, ver
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[nq:2]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases ... else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Formulaic".[/nq]
Decorum?
[nq:1]"Formulaic".[/nq]
Decorum?
00
[nq:2]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases uttered purely to conform to some convention.[/nq]
...
[nq:2]I'm sure there's a word or phrase for this (apart ... else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
[nq:1]Phatic communication. From M-W: Main Entry: phat·ic Pronunciation: 'fa-tik Function: adjective Etymology: Greek phatos, verbal of phanai to speak
...
[nq:2]I'm sure there's a word or phrase for this (apart ... else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
[nq:1]Phatic communication. From M-W: Main Entry: phat·ic Pronunciation: 'fa-tik Function: adjective Etymology: Greek phatos, verbal of phanai to speak
00
[nq:2]I'm looking for a word that describes words or phrases ... else equally pejorative), but I can't think what it is.[/nq]
"Courtesy"?
Mike
M.J.Powell
"Courtesy"?
Mike
M.J.Powell
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[nq:2]=20 Phatic communication. From M-W: Main Entry: phat=B7ic=20 Pronunciation: 'fa-tik ... purposes= rather than for communicating information - phat=B7I=B7cal=B7ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb=20[/nq]
[nq:1]That's interesting. "Phatic" is new to me. The OPs idea of "cant" is pretty good, too. Here's a definition of "cant" from W3NID: "... the expression or repetition of conventional, trite, or unc
[nq:1]That's interesting. "Phatic" is new to me. The OPs idea of "cant" is pretty good, too. Here's a definition of "cant" from W3NID: "... the expression or repetition of conventional, trite, or unc
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