stage phoning
n.— «Take “stage phoning”, for instance, the term sociologists use for the show we put on when we are being observed or overheard talking on our mobile. “Like a cubist painting, the speaker on the mobile phone is seen from two perspectives,” observes Hans Geser in his study, Towards a Sociological Theory of the Mobile Phone.» —“Never Alone” The Age (Australia) May 15, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Old. Elderly. Senior. Why are we so uncomfortable when we talk about reaching a certain point in life? An 82-year-old seeks a more positive term to describe how she feels about her age. And: a linguist helps solve a famous kidnapping case, using the...
Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm...