#25 - "Hey! How's it goin?" - Making Small Talk

Send us Fan MailLatonya and Diana talk about making small talk - those short conversations between people who usually don't know each other very well.   Small talk conversations are usually not about important things, but they are conversations that make connections between people. Small talk "breaks the ice" - it "melts" the cold, awkward silence  between people and makes them feel more comfortable. Some situations when we make small talk are:               At work when we talk with coworkers at the start of the workday or on break            In our neighborhood or apartment complex; When we meet neighbors on the street, in the parking lot, on the stairs, or at the mailbox              At the grocery store – When we are waiting in line or chatting with the cashier when we are checking out There are some things that  most small talk conversations have in common.           They are usually short.          We use informal English: going to becomes “gonna”; going becomes "goin"         We often  ask for agreement with  “Isn’t it?” or  “wasn’t it?”         We try to be agreeable with our answers:  “Me too!”, “Same here!”, "That's right!"Most small talk conversations have  three parts:  Greetings, Subject and Endings.                Greetings are informal: Hi! Hey! (Good) Morning ("Mornin"! How’s it going (goin)? What’s new? It’s good to see you. What’s up? How’s your (morning, afternoon, evening, day) going ("goin") The Subject (Topic) is usually safe.      Weather  The weather is (great/amazing/beautiful/ wonderful/terrible/awful/miser-able), isn’t it?       Observations:          It’s busy/crowded/quiet/crazy) here today, isn't it?                                         The traffic was (great/terrible/slow) today, wasn't it?         Endings:  It was (nice/great) talking with you.           Have a good one (day)                      Talk to you later!  or “later!”           Enjoy the rest of  your day!           Sorry!  Gotta (got to) run!       Listen for those "building blocks" as Latonya and Diana make small talk.Tacomaliteracy.org