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. In essence, it is polite and standard conversation about unimportant things.

Small talk consists of three main parts: a greeting, conversation, and a closing. Small talk is vital in maintaining social cohesion. The topics used in small talk are important to create a social environment that feels neutral and safe.

The phenomenon of small talk was initially studied in 1923 by Bronisław Malinowski in his essay "The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages", who coined the term "phatic communication" to describe it. Phatic communication, or small talk, is not used to exchange important information; instead it is used to build and maintain interpersonal relationships. The ability to conduct small talk is a social skill.

There are differences in small talk between genders. Women use compliments as a form of friendly phatic communion, while men use joking as a way of connecting through small talk. There are differences and similarities between cultural small talk. While some cultures use small talk similarly to English culture, others use it differently.