What is a Linguistic ‘Tell’?

Date of Publication: June 19, 2025

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a ‘Tell’ as being ‘an unconscious action that is thought to betray an attempted deception’.

From a linguistic perspective, it could be the inclusion of a specific word such as the word ‘left’ when used as a connecting verb or the use of hedging language such as ‘think’ or ‘might’ when it is unexpected.

In a recent episode of SKY TV’s Poker Face programme entitled, ‘Sleazy Georgian’, a ‘Tell’ is defined as being a ‘friction point’. The programme states, ‘A lie is the contrast between what you present to the world and the truth that you’re hiding - and the Tell is the friction point between those two things’.

A ‘Tell’ can also be something that which isn’t said, such as the pronoun ‘I’ when it is expected. When pronouns are removed from the statement, it is a reliable ‘Tell’ of the subject failing to demonstrate commitment to the words which they would have us believe.

In an online interview, a CEO of a Wealth Management firm, was asked a question about his involvement with another wealth manager. As part of the response, the CEO included the words, ‘No involvement at all’.

We don’t know who wasn’t involved as the CEO drops the pronoun (i.e. ‘I’ or ‘We’ etc), thereby weakening his commitment to what he just said.

It is often the case that what isn’t said can tell us more about what actually happened.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrzCpFu2SWw

All blog subjects are identified, validated and written by the DDL Team.

See www.ddlltd.com for more on Deception Detection Lab Ltd.