As Brits, we are globally recognised as a nation of small talkers.
“small talk to Brits is more than just about passing the time of day.”
Derived from the British stereotype of being excruciating polite, we dedicate time out of our demanding schedules to simply chit-chat. In the lift. Down the supermarket aisle. At the bus stop. You name it, we chat there. We’ve built a culture of humble conversationalists (ignoring those involved in the stampede of London City rush hour) who strive for simple conversation with their peers.
We’re hot on weather updates, fanatic about traffic and can’t resist reminding our colleagues it’s Friday, every Friday.
You see, small talk to Brits is more than just about passing the time of day.
It’s all gloriously empty chat and absolutely expected on your average day in Britain.
Cue March 2020: in an overnight decision the UK nosedives into national lockdown and suddenly life is a sea of plastic masks and hand sanitiser. A stern-face Boris imposes a 2m distance rule, great for those blindly oblivious to personal space, not so great for the continuation of the small talk phenomenon. It was drummed into our minds not to approach scary Mrs Walters from next door let alone engage in pointless conversation with her about yesterday’s slight downfall of rain.
Was this it? The end of British small talk as we knew it? Disintegrating before our very eyes?
”You see, small talk to Brits is more than just about passing the time of day.”
Although the accessibility of engaging in small talk was certainly impacted, our ability and inevitable need to do so was not. You see, small talk to Brits is more than just about passing the time of day. It’s about connection and community. It’s about being kind and making a difference. It helps us to establish relationships and build on the ones we already possess.
The energy of these neighbours in Cheshire getting their socially distant groove on during the lockdown is something we all need right now. 💃
Read more: https://t.co/7SNlwHWRlS pic.twitter.com/2ZKTKd5NxX— HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) April 1, 2020
You’ll remember the hazy evenings in July when cul-de-sac residents would sit on their drives with a cup of tea to connect with neighbours. Or the Thursday evening assemble on your front porch, banging pots and pans for the NHS with the rest of the street, adamant to be the loudest lane in town. And of course, the endless Friday night family Zoom quizzes to help us feel as one again. Our traditional means of chit-chat has been interrupted, but together, we’ve learnt to adapt and overcome as we continue to tackle this virus together.
For many, British small talk can encompass an even deeper meaning and we’ve proudly embraced this during lockdown.
”We’ve discovered how overwhelming powerful small talk can be to unite a nation.”
During a time of isolation and staying indoors, we’ve discovered how overwhelming powerful small talk can be to unite a nation, connect a village or even save a life. ITV’s Mental Wellness campaign Britain Get Talking encouraged families to connect and take the time to listen. Samaritan’s Small Talk Saves Lives campaign empowered the public to act to prevent suicide on the railways. And the 2020 Emirates FA Cup Final was renamed in honour of the Heads Up campaign, which strived to spark conversation and break the ongoing stigma around men’s mental health.
During a time of isolation and staying indoors, we’ve discovered how overwhelming powerful small talk can be to unite a nation, connect a village or even save a life. Lockdown catapulted us into a new environment with ongoing restrictions and challenges to overcome. Yet, we can proudly admit we continued to open up, to share a few words and to chat to one another.
Lockdown has not constrained British small talk in the slightest. Instead, we’ve learnt to understand and appreciate its true value.
Harriett Lewis
Featured image courtesy of Harli Marten on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.