Phatic communion refers to small talk and social pleasantries that serve a social function but do not convey meaningful information. It was first described by anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski and refers to speech that creates social bonds through mere exchange of words. John Laver's research identified three types of phatic tokens: self-oriented tokens that are personal to the speaker, other-oriented tokens related to the listener, and neutral-oriented tokens about the context or situation. Phatic communication is useful for creating and maintaining social relationships, avoiding conflict, and keeping harmony in society by containing positive language and minimizing tensions.

1. Paragmatic Tool-Phatic
Tokens
Muhammad Sajid (msf2000387)
Hunza Arshad(msf2000406 )
Iqra Shahid (msf2000405)

2. Phatic Communion and Fictional Dialogues
“In linguistics, phatic communion is communication which serves
as a social function such as small talk and social pleasantries that
do not seek or offer any information of value. Example: greetings
such as "hello" and "how are you" are phatic expressions.”

3. • The term "phatic" communion was
coined by anthropologist Bronishlaw
Malinowsky in his essay "The Problem
of Meaning in Primitive Languages”
which appeared in 1923.
• “A type of speech in which ties
of union are created by a mere
exchange of words”-
Malinaowski 1972 (definition of
Phatic Communion)

4. Phatic Tokes
• In 1975, John Laver's research on Phatic Communion in
a paper entitled Communicative Function of Phatic
Communion
According to work done by Laver (1975), phatic choices
reveal strong indicators of social status. Phatic tokens, by
definition:
• have positive polarity (they tend not to use negatives)
• are emotionally and ideologically uncontroversial (such
as talking about the weather)
• expect a positive but fairly non-committal response (mild

5. • Laver also developed a further social dimension to the
token-type used. He identified three types of phatic
token:
Phatic
Token
Self
Oriented
Tokens
Other
Oriented
Tokens
Neutral
Oriented
Tokens

6. 1. Self Oriented:
Self-oriented phatic tokens
are personal to the speaker.
For Example:
“I'm not up to this”, “I'm
warm today”, “I'm pleased to
meet you” etc.

7. 2. Other Oriented:
It is reference is to the
addressee. Other-
oriented tokens are related to
the hearer.
Example:
“Do you work here?”, “You
seem to know what you're
doing” etc.

8. 3. Neutral Oriented
Token which are pointing not to the speaker neither to
the listener directly but concerned with the context of
situation.
Example:
Teacher: There will be no class today.
Students: Okay ma’am, thank you.

9. Cont…
Example 2:
A friend posted a status on WHATSAPP which was a video
of view of place after rain.
1st Friend: ( Weather Status).
2nd Friend: Wao! The weather is so good today.

10. Conclusion
Phatic communication is
useful in creating and
maintaining social relation

11. Cont…
Used in conflict avoidance
and
contain positive polarity

12. Cont...
Keeps harmony and
balance in the society

13. Cont...
Minimize the damage
caused by conflicts,
communication and
tension that need to be
avoided at all cost

14. Thank You