Thought-Terminating Cliches

Today's post comes to you from the intersection of linguistics and politics ...

I recently stumbled across mention of a grammatical formulation called the "Thought-Terminating Cliche," describing a word or phrase used to forestall further discussion or ease cognitive dissonance. A simple and common example would be an exasperated parent responding to a child's repeated requests for something by saying, "we'll see."  

I thought about the idea of the thought-terminating cliche while watching the televised hearings of the January 6th Select Committee to Investigate the Attack on the United States Capitol. At least two witnesses being interviewed under oath, lawyer John Eastman and retired Army Lt General Michael Flynn, refused to answer various questions by invoking their protection against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. But instead of using a dramatic, wordy, and legalistic answer like "I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me," General Flynn initially said, "Take the Fifth," followed by repeated invocations of the single word "Fifth." Mr Eastman began in lawyerly fashion by saying, "I assert my Fifth Amendment right against being compelled to be a witness against myself," but answered subsequent questions by saying, "The Fifth" or, simply, "Fifth."

A key Constitutional protection has been thus reduced to a Thought-Terminating Cliche.

Of course, simply saying "Fifth" keeps the respondent from using other words that might yield unfortunate sound bites on the news.

We see a similar use of the Thought-Terminating Cliche in attempts to stifle discussion of ways to reduce gun violence, where gun rights advocates often deflect questions or unwelcome evidence with a statement like, "What part of 'shall not be infringed' don't you understand?" It's a little more wordy than just saying "Second," but still serves the purpose of cutting off a discussion for which the respondent has no valid supporting arguments.

Debate over the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision has also led to a large number of Thought-Terminating Cliches, among them "My Body, My Choice" and "Choose Life," both of which reduce this most morally and legally complex of issues to dueling cliches devoid of empathy, compassion, or understanding.

Thought-Terminating Cliches take the place of debate when the competing positions are absolute, leaving no room for compromise or nuance, when logical arguments fail, or when actual persuasive evidence is lacking.

Makes you want to drink a fifth each time someone invokes the Fifth, doesn't it?

Have a good day. Unless, of course, it might tend to incriminate you ... in which case, just say "Fifth" to save time and thought.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo