Small talk. Chitchat. These are the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers. Many people find these small conversations about random topics difficult. Some people say they hate it. Others say small talk is a waste of time. They may even call it idle chitchat or idle chatter, meaning it doesn’t do anything. They consider small talk not important. However, small talk is important. These exchanges can open doors that may lead to larger, more meaningful conversations.
Title: Small Talk May Make Us Happier
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/small_talk.m4a' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Small Talk May Make Us Happier' data-article-id='2559'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='2646'>Small talk.</span> <span data-start-time='2646' data-end-time='4396'>Chitchat.</span> <span data-start-time='4396' data-end-time='14708'>These are the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work.</span> <span data-start-time='14708' data-end-time='22125'>Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well.</span> <span data-start-time='22125' data-end-time='27708'>Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers.</span> <span data-start-time='27708' data-end-time='34604'>Many people find these small conversations about random topics difficult.</span> <span data-start-time='34604' data-end-time='37875'>Some people say they hate it. </span> <span data-start-time='37875' data-end-time='42604'>Others say small talk is a waste of time.</span> <span data-start-time='42604' data-end-time='52208'>They may even call it idle chitchat or idle chatter, meaning it doesn’t do anything.</span> <span data-start-time='52208' data-end-time='56396'>They consider small talk not important.</span> <span data-start-time='56396' data-end-time='60833'>However, small talk is important.</span> <span data-start-time='60833' data-end-time='69146'>These exchanges can open doors that may lead to larger, more meaningful conversations.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/small_talk.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=9181 data-hint-location='42604' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/what_does_idle_mean.m4a'>What does idle mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='having no purpose'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/do_anything.m4a'><span>do anything</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/finding_common_topics.m4a'><span>finding common topics</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/having_no_purpose.m4a'><span>having no purpose</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/talking_with_strangers.m4a'><span>talking with strangers</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=9182 data-hint-location='60833' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/what_can_small_talk_do.m4a'>What can small talk do?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='open doors'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/build_bridges.m4a'><span>build bridges</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/open_doors.m4a'><span>open doors</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/mend_fences.m4a'><span>mend fences</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/close_windows.m4a'><span>close windows</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=9183 data-hint-location='37875' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/others_say_small_talk_is_a__blank_.m4a'>Others say small talk is a <span class='blank'>waste of time</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='waste of time'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/waste_of_time.m4a'><span>waste of time</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/strong_indicator.m4a'><span>strong indicator</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/important_event.m4a'><span>important event</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/long_discussion.m4a'><span>long discussion</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
Sound Name: https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2041/small_talk.m4a
Preview
