What is the best catch-all term for the “formalisms” that make up specific traditions—such as shaking hands, signatures, specific legal procedures, etc?
speech acts if they have consequences, phatic speech if they’re ceremonial. Including body language.
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So a handshake could be “speech” for these purposes?
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Yes... and can fall into either category. There are contexts where a handshake is a contract or a truce agreement (ie speech act) and ones where it;s a gestural greeting like “Hi!” A complex handshake is a password.
End of conversation
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