Not Saying That On Preventing Communication

Abstract This chapter explores ways that speakers can be silenced by being prevented from even attempting to communicate. This can happen physically (as when a speaker is gagged), and it can happen prescriptively (as when a speaker is ordered to remain silent) but the chapter focuses on cases of self-silencing, where a speaker decides against saying a certain thing in order to avoid the anticipated harms of speaking. Cases of anticipated disagreement are distinguished from what is here called harm-avoidance self-silencing. This chapter also discusses Dotson’s account of testimonial smothering, offers reasons to expand the concept, and it explores the sinister (and potentially silencing) side of politeness norms.