Entertainment / Literature / Phatic Communication: Exchanges or conversation designed primarily not to transmit information, but rather to reinforce social bonds, signal the beginning or end of a conversation, or engage in ritual activities. For instance, if we pass a stranger in the hallway and say, 'Hi, howya doing?' and pass on after a nod, the linguistic exchange was not an actual request for data, but merely a politeness acknowledging the other's presence. Similarly, 'thanks for stopping by' or 'you're welcome, come again' are all social lubricants to ease the transition to and from ritual activity rather than attempts at factual communication. Phatic communication is the term for this phenomenon.
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Technology / Cell Phones / Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA): A trade group representing PCS, SMR, private radio and other wireless users and carriers. MORE
Technology / Cell Phones / Personal Communications Service (PCS): A second-generation digital voice, messaging and data cell phone system in the 2GHz range. PCS is supported mostly by GSM. PCS systems use a different radio frequency (1.9 GHz band) than cellular phon MORE
Entertainment / Literature / Phatic Communication: Exchanges or conversation designed primarily not to transmit information, but rather to reinforce social bonds, signal the beginning or end of a conversation, or engage in ritual activities. For insta MORE