Small talk can be awkward and pointless but it is present in our everyday lives, regardless of the language we are speaking. It seems logical to deduce that if you can master it in your mother tongue, transferring that knowledge into your English conversations should be straightforward. However, it is not always the case. This could be a major concern for business English learners and users, whose command of small talk can lead up to creating the right connections when it comes to networking. For travellers, it can create situations that lead up to a much more enriching trip or even to striking up new friendships.

In essence, until you get to know a little bit about the person you are talking to, it is better to stay on the safe side. It is certainly more enlightening to engage in deep conversations (big talk) and although small talk can occasionally lead to that, we can’t always count on it.

These short inconsequential conversations are simply a polite exchange and that is exactly the purpose they serve: to fill awkward silences. Based on how this exchange develops, either of you can give the cue to moving forward into more insightful topics.

What sort of topics are not acceptable?

As a rule of thumb, logic applies here. Most people will feel tension when revealing personal details involving salary matters, political views, health problems or religion so it is better to steer clear of those.

Formal or informal language?

It really very much depends on the person you have in front of you but in general, these conversations are casual (and polite).

What topics, then? 

The weather is an ice-breaker but that does not take you far. If you deem it appropriate, you can discuss the news (unless it is controversial).

As it happens, there is always a context that we can hold on to and use as a springboard to start the exchange (e.g. If you are attending a conference day, chatting about some of the talks during the coffee break seems a no-brainer). The environment you are immersed in will provide you with the cue to engage in conversation.

There are no fast and hard rules about it, but here are some random ideas in context.

Waiting somewhere

• Do you know the cause of the delay?
• This service is quite reliable. I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes.
• How long have you been waiting?
• Oh, I didn’t expect this queue. If I had known about it, I would have brought a book.

Although questions abound here, these should be interspersed with comments. It would be weird to be constantly asking questions, wouldn’t it? You have to add some juicy content to keep the flow or else it may look like an interview.

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