Which category includes social expressions such as Hi and Bye-bye?

• A. Affective states/social words
• B. Assertive: yes/no, want
• C. Social expressive
• D. Modifiers

Answer: (C)

Social expressions like Hi and Bye-bye show how language is used to manage social interaction. They’re ritualized exchanges that greet someone or signal the end of a conversation, serving a social function rather than conveying an internal feeling or a request. This is why they fit the social expressive category: it captures intentions behind brief verbal acts that shape how we start, maintain, or close interactions. In contrast, affective states describe feelings (happy, hungry), not social routines; assertive expressions involve yes/no or wants and are about making statements or requests; modifiers change the properties of nouns or adjectives rather than performing a social action. So greetings and farewells are best described as social expressive.