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How to Cite
Mediating Intimacy through Phatic Tokens in Social Media Communication: A Pragmatic Inquiry
Abstract
People nowadays have most of their conversations on social media apps. They use many phatic tokens while having online conversations. The present study aims to analyze the types of phatic tokens youngsters use in their conversations on social networking sites. Laver’s theory of phatic tokens and Scheff ’s Bond Theory have been used as theoretical framework for better understanding of this discursive mechanism of phatic communication. Following mixed method approach, a small scale corpus of watsapp real interactions have been collected from 10 participants and analyzed using mixed method approach. Data reveal that phatic tokens perform the function of conflict avoidance hence very helpful in keeping harmony and balance in the community or a society. It is suggested that knowledge and awareness about the phatic communication should be made compulsory at all levels in different social institutions to create social bonds and minimizes the damages caused by conflicts and tensions, through applications of phatic communications
Authors
Mamona Yasmin Khan
Assistant Professor, Department of English, The Women University Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
Dr. Iram Rubab
Assistant Professor, Department of English, GC Women University Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
Dr. Umaima Kamran
In-charge/Assistant Professor, Department of English, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
Keywords
Social Networking Sites, Social Media, Phatic Communication, Phatic Tokens, Social Interactions
