Comments and utterances such as "howdy" "hey" "what's up?" "awesome weather uh?" don't do much to give knowledge or anything. They are just tools for everyday conversations. What is this type of language called? Just "informal" or something else?
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These are markers of social class and ingroup solidarity, identifying the speaker's status, and allowing listeners to "tune" the speaker's voice. The first few exchanges in most conversations would be lost to untuned ears anyway, so these are usually take up with meaningless formulas for social tuning, and thus no communication is lost.– John LawlerCommented Jun 22, 2014 at 15:28
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6 Answers
These 'social lubricant' words are called
They are intended to not convey information but simply mark a social need. Or rather the information is not based on reference to objects and actions but instead to conveying the social situation.
Of course it all depends on the situation. "How are you?" can be phatic, when the intention is to get the response "Fine. And you?", or it can be informative, when the intention is a description of one's hospital visit.
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I know phatic, but is phaticism a recognized noun? or should it be a phatic expression?– vickyaceCommented Jun 22, 2014 at 15:15
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@vickyace 1) I've always called it 'phaticism'. 2) a quick google search contradicts that, where 'phatic expression' is used mostly, and 'phaticism' is used only obliquely for the concept. 'Phatic expression' is probably the better choice then.– MitchCommented Jun 22, 2014 at 16:28
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Phatic it may be, but I can't remember the last time someone asked me "How are you can?" (-:– Jim MackCommented Jun 22, 2014 at 19:46
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Informal works, or maybe colloquial. You might hear chit-chat, too, or small talk.
'Colloquial' is interesting because the noun form 'colloquy' refers to a formal discussion, the opposite of the adjective.
Vernacular is another word for it.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/vernacular
Informal and colloquial would refer to the form of the language used, including the speaker's tone, non-standard words and pronunciations. Small talk refers to the content of the discussion. Speaking just for speaking, on the weather and the like.
I would term this casual conversation.
answered Jun 22, 2014 at 12:47
In an unsearchable and potentially ephemeral comment to the original posting, Professor Lawler kindly presented the following answer:
These are markers of social class and ingroup solidarity, identifying the speaker’s status, and allowing listeners to “tune” the speaker’s voice.
The first few exchanges in most conversations would be lost to untuned ears anyway, so these are usually taken up with meaningless formulas for social tuning, and thus no communication is lost.
I’ve marked this posting Community Wiki because it is John’s answer not my own, and so I deserve no reputation from it.