Small talk

Small talk is an informal type of discourse that does not cover any functional topics of conversation or any transactions that need to be addressed.^[1] In essence, it is polite and standard conversation about unimportant things.^[2]

The phenomenon of small talk was initially studied in 1923^[3] by Bronisław Malinowski in his essay "The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages",^[4] who coined the term "phatic communication" to describe it.^[5] The ability to conduct small talk is a social skill.

^ "dummies - Learning Made Easy". www.dummies.com. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
^ "small-talk noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com". www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
^ Nield, David (7 July 2016). "Here's The Science Behind Why Small Talk Is So Awkward – And So Essential". ScienceAlert. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
^ "The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages". The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
^ Malinowski, B. (1923) "The problem of meaning in primitive languages", in: Ogden, C. & Richards, I., The Meaning of Meaning, Routledge, London

[1] "dummies - Learning Made Easy". www.dummies.com. Retrieved 2021-12-19.

[2] "small-talk noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com". www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. Retrieved 2019-12-27.

[3] Nield, David (7 July 2016). "Here's The Science Behind Why Small Talk Is So Awkward – And So Essential". ScienceAlert. Retrieved 2019-12-27.

[4] "The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages". The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages. Retrieved 2019-12-27.

[5] Malinowski, B. (1923) "The problem of meaning in primitive languages", in: Ogden, C. & Richards, I., The Meaning of Meaning, Routledge, London

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]