Is there a word for the things we say repeatedly and if not exactly without thinking or without sincerity, then perhaps without gravitas? Almost with a throw-away, feathery, flippancy that suggests to others that it is not heartfelt. When in fact it might be the most important thing we ever say. It just doesn't sound that way because it is said too often. If there isn't a word in English for this then there should be. What about inventing one? Why not? I can think of lots of reasons 'why not' - but when did reason ever stop a procrastinator from ... well ... procrastinating?
To those that have to listen to us, these repeated, overused phrases become our own personal cliché, part of what makes us who we are and something that others, increasingly, grow to associate with us. You're here and you're saying it again. And again. Perhaps it becomes an ear-worm of the voice. We associate the person with what they say. So and so is coming to tea - mental image of so and so pops into your head and simultaneously that phrase they always say sings out into your mind's ear. Now, this could be good or bad. It might make you smile or grit your teeth. It could be slightly or intensely annoying, a constant undercurrent, punctuating your social transactions - a characteristic cliché-motif or clich-motif ('cl-ee-sh-mo-w- teef'), if you like. There - word invented. Clich-motif. I haven't looked very hard for an alternative so apologies if one exists already; it can consign my usurper to a bloggy grave.
Clich-motif: a slightly clumsy, invented, collective noun.
Examples would include the "... and see" that my mother places at the end of almost every sentence; and the 'take care' with which I bid farewell to one and all, on the phone, face to face, in texts and emails. Apparently, I use it all the time. I was even caught, earlier this week, saying it to a child who was going up the stairs to her room. I wasn't aware of this personal trope prior to having it pointed out. But I am now. And I hear myself start to say it and catch it and am forced to question why. Why do I say it? All the time.
Whether my invented word is a usurper or not, clich-motifs are common to us all. A verbal-tic that becomes a habit. We hear our children pick up and repeat the things that we say - words, small phrases; every family has them and when they stick they become part of family history, the glue that binds families together, the jokes and references to former events that only family members fully understand. We have 'toffee-tea' - said with a questioning uplift - which dates from eldest's endearing repeated offering of water in a plastic coffee cup when she was two or three years old, and 'please may can I have these ones?' which started when one child sternly told his father that I want was not the way to ask for something. Politicians do it, too - Tony Blair and his 'what I say is' that always made me silently shout 'just say it!' at the radio or television. Comedians and celebrities often have catch phrases - punchy words that define them; perhaps these are a subset of clich-motifs.
Interesting (to me anyway) aside for a moment - the autocorrect has so far tried to substitute clicc-motif and clinch-motif. Does that mean they exist? What are they? *
Back to me and my clich-motif (... clinch on autocorrect again). Dictionaries describe take care as an idiomatic phrase; a combination of words that stray from their literal meaning. Okay, for some idioms - most probably, because that is after all what they are - the meaning is unpredictable. Over the moon, for example. I can't jump that high. No-body can. And if I say I'm over the moon no-one would expect me to be anything other than ecstatically happy. In the case of take care, though, I disagree. When I say it, I mean everything implied by an accurate definition of both words. Take - grab; hold onto; never take your eyes off the ball. And care - be safe.
I use it instead of, or in addition to, farewell which if you think about it means that I am saying the same thing twice - fare well and take care. Even goodbye is derived from God be with you, so arguably means the same thing. Americans say 'Have a nice day.' All are so much better than cheers, or laterz or ciao. My inner sheep dog is a worrier (not a surprise to anyone who knows me); if I can't go with them, I tell my flock to stay safe. I want them back. I want there to be a next time.
Maybe, what I should be saying is 'arrivederci.' Although, post-Brexit that would seem a little contrived. Post-anytime actually, since I'm not Italian.
There is only one way to end this blog posting today
... take care.
* they don't exist
To those that have to listen to us, these repeated, overused phrases become our own personal cliché, part of what makes us who we are and something that others, increasingly, grow to associate with us. You're here and you're saying it again. And again. Perhaps it becomes an ear-worm of the voice. We associate the person with what they say. So and so is coming to tea - mental image of so and so pops into your head and simultaneously that phrase they always say sings out into your mind's ear. Now, this could be good or bad. It might make you smile or grit your teeth. It could be slightly or intensely annoying, a constant undercurrent, punctuating your social transactions - a characteristic cliché-motif or clich-motif ('cl-ee-sh-mo-w- teef'), if you like. There - word invented. Clich-motif. I haven't looked very hard for an alternative so apologies if one exists already; it can consign my usurper to a bloggy grave.
Clich-motif: a slightly clumsy, invented, collective noun.
Examples would include the "... and see" that my mother places at the end of almost every sentence; and the 'take care' with which I bid farewell to one and all, on the phone, face to face, in texts and emails. Apparently, I use it all the time. I was even caught, earlier this week, saying it to a child who was going up the stairs to her room. I wasn't aware of this personal trope prior to having it pointed out. But I am now. And I hear myself start to say it and catch it and am forced to question why. Why do I say it? All the time.
Whether my invented word is a usurper or not, clich-motifs are common to us all. A verbal-tic that becomes a habit. We hear our children pick up and repeat the things that we say - words, small phrases; every family has them and when they stick they become part of family history, the glue that binds families together, the jokes and references to former events that only family members fully understand. We have 'toffee-tea' - said with a questioning uplift - which dates from eldest's endearing repeated offering of water in a plastic coffee cup when she was two or three years old, and 'please may can I have these ones?' which started when one child sternly told his father that I want was not the way to ask for something. Politicians do it, too - Tony Blair and his 'what I say is' that always made me silently shout 'just say it!' at the radio or television. Comedians and celebrities often have catch phrases - punchy words that define them; perhaps these are a subset of clich-motifs.
Interesting (to me anyway) aside for a moment - the autocorrect has so far tried to substitute clicc-motif and clinch-motif. Does that mean they exist? What are they? *
Back to me and my clich-motif (... clinch on autocorrect again). Dictionaries describe take care as an idiomatic phrase; a combination of words that stray from their literal meaning. Okay, for some idioms - most probably, because that is after all what they are - the meaning is unpredictable. Over the moon, for example. I can't jump that high. No-body can. And if I say I'm over the moon no-one would expect me to be anything other than ecstatically happy. In the case of take care, though, I disagree. When I say it, I mean everything implied by an accurate definition of both words. Take - grab; hold onto; never take your eyes off the ball. And care - be safe.
I use it instead of, or in addition to, farewell which if you think about it means that I am saying the same thing twice - fare well and take care. Even goodbye is derived from God be with you, so arguably means the same thing. Americans say 'Have a nice day.' All are so much better than cheers, or laterz or ciao. My inner sheep dog is a worrier (not a surprise to anyone who knows me); if I can't go with them, I tell my flock to stay safe. I want them back. I want there to be a next time.
Maybe, what I should be saying is 'arrivederci.' Although, post-Brexit that would seem a little contrived. Post-anytime actually, since I'm not Italian.
There is only one way to end this blog posting today
... take care.
* they don't exist
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