Which term describes the language used to share feelings or establish sociability rather than to convey information, such as greetings?

• A. Phatic language
• B. Transactional talk
• C. Field
• D. Tenor

Answer: (A)

Phatic language is the social lubricant of conversation, used to establish sociability and connection rather than to pass along new information. It includes greetings, small talk, and polite niceties that create a friendly tone and smooth the flow of interaction. The question points to language whose primary aim is feel-for-social bonding, not information transfer, which is exactly the function of phatic speech. The other terms describe different aspects of discourse: transactional talk focuses on exchanging information to achieve a goal; field refers to the subject matter or topic of the discourse; tenor concerns the relationships and social distance between the speakers. Thus, phatic language best captures the described use.