nonspeak

English

Alternative forms

• non-speak, non speak

Etymology

From non- +‎ speak.

Noun

nonspeak (uncountable)

1. Speech that is intended to satisfy a needed response, yet lacking in any real pertinent information; speech about nothing, empty words; useless talk or babble.
   • 2002, Burl Burlingame, Advance Force Pearl Harbor:

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

   • 2005, Armand Mattelart, Advertising International:

     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.

   • 2010, Lou Morissette, Rolicking City Police: Blue Deceit:

     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.

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

     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.

2. (rare) An aversion to speaking; speechlessness.
   • 1990, Patricia W. Lunneborg, Women Changing Work, page 190:

     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.

See also

• talk in circles