
What are common topics for German small talk in social settings
Common topics for small talk in German social settings typically include the weather, current events, work or studies, hobbies and leisure activities, and family or personal life. Germans often start conversations with neutral, light subjects like the weather or recent news to create a comfortable atmosphere. Discussing one’s job or educational background is also common as a way to get to know each other. Other popular small talk topics include sports, travel experiences, and local events or cultural happenings. Though Germans might seem reserved, they appreciate polite, genuine interest in these everyday subjects to foster social connection and ease into deeper conversations if appropriate. 1
References
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Jane & Theo: Affinities Stylistic and Temperamental in Jane Austen and Theodor Fontane
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“Wait, did you mean the doctor?”: Collecting a Dialogue Corpus for Topical Analysis
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Is German discourse-configurational? Experimental evidence for a topic position
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When the Body Belies the Words: Embodied Agency With darf/kann ich? (“May/Can I?”) in German
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At the Lower End of Language—Exploring the Vulgar and Obscene Side of German
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Linguistic Politeness and Greeting Rituals in German-speaking Switzerland
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The Use of Phrases Containing misunderstanding in German Discussion Forums