About Small Talk

Small talk is conversation, typically about inane topics such as the weather or local sports, shared usually between two people. Small talk may occur to avoid awkwardness between two strangers (such as on a long elevator ride). People may also engage in small talk if they do not know each other well, because small talk allows safe and comfortable conversation topics as opposed to more controversial ones, such as politics and religion. The act of making small talk when a person encounters a business associate, classmate or acquaintance is considered polite.

Function

Small talk has several possible functions. People can engage in small talk to catch up and express an interest in each others' lives when they have a limited amount of time to speak because of work, family or social commitments. Some also choose to engage in small talk to mitigate potentially awkward situations. Small talk is also an acceptable means of establishing boundaries in conversation.

Types

Small talk includes banal or inane everyday topics; it does not include grandiose or philosophical topics, discussion of controversial topics or the divulging of details otherwise considered too personal. Common topics of small talk include sports, weather, local events, polite discussion of mutual acquaintances, and exchanging compliments on articles of clothing.

Time Frame

Small talk is ideal for social situations requiring only a short time frame for a conversation. Conversations containing small talk usually do not exceed a few minutes. Examples of situations requiring small talk include bus rides, greeting an associate before discussing business, talking to coworkers before work or speaking with an acquaintance while waiting for a mutual friend to return to the dinner table.

Benefits

People who can hold small talk conversations are generally considered polite and sociable. One can also slowly get to know another by having a series of small talk conversations. This allows people to discover each others' interests at a slow pace.

Significance

Small talk generally revolves around topics that are unremarkable, socially acceptable and experienced by all. The weather, for example, is not an unusual topic or occurrence, though snow is an appropriate small talk topic as others can discuss how it has affected their days.