nonspeak

alternative non-speak · alternative non speak

1. uncountableSpeech that is intended to satisfy a needed response, yet lacking in any real pertinent information; speech about nothing, empty words; useless talk or babble.

   Most of the action reports are carefully worded statements by ship's officers who have been trained in the art of nonspeak.

   2002, Burl Burlingame, Advance Force Pearl Harbor

   3 more examples

   The only possible originality advertising could claim is in technique, and even then this is doubtful; certainly never in content, which consists entirely in pseudo-speech, Orwellian non-speak.

   2005, Armand Mattelart, Advertising International

   There was no primary media spokesperson for the Department. Earl had some very basic training in the finer art of “non-speak.” which was the RCP language of choice. As long as your media target was satisfied that they heard something tangible—the delivery boy was off the hook.

   2010, Lou Morissette, Rolicking City Police: Blue Deceit

   The tendency for obscure communication or what human rights and refugee advocate Julian Burnside AO QC calls “nonspeak”, most commonly found in complex and jargon-ridden language used by governments and business, leads to the “wilful misuse” of language in public utterances.

   2013, Eva Desiree van den Berg, Language of the Heart

2. rareuncountableAn aversion to speaking; speechlessness.

   By nine, Hodson said, boys have learned to be incurious about other people; they aren't inclined to conversation; they aren't interested in discovering more about other people. They have already learned nonspeak and nonlisten.

   1990, Patricia W. Lunneborg, Women Changing Work, page 190