• Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works
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    20 days ago

    Yup, the only two things small talk and conversation have in common is that they take a minimum of two people and involve spoken words.

    • Opisek@lemmy.world
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      20 days ago

      If people small-talk in sign language, would it be called small-talk?

      Your remark about “spoken words” made be think about this and I find it curious, since “small-talk” has become something of a fixed expression.

      While words related to vocal conversations do appear in other phrases like “being left speechless” for example, I imagine “small-talk” to be more of a thing on its own in today’s usage.

      • Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works
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        19 days ago

        That’s a good point - do we “speak” sign language? I’d never given it much thought. I think it was lazy writing on my behalf; the phrase “spoken words” could probably be tweaked to make it more obviously inclusive of all the signers out there.