[One Thousand Characters a Day] Professor Shin Ji-young's 'Language Sensitivity' Class＜4＞

Editor's NoteSmall talk also serves the ritualistic function of language. Through small talk, we politely express that we recognize the person in front of us as an 'existence.' It is a verbal expression of hospitality, saying, "You are not an invisible person but recognized by me as an individual." Who wouldn't find conversations with strangers difficult and challenging? Still, we willingly interact with strangers because we believe it is necessary to express our welcoming attitude toward their existence. Character count: 1068.

Small talk refers to light and trivial conversations that take place in social situations. It mainly denotes conversations between people who are either meeting for the first time or are not close, rather than exchanges between intimate acquaintances. Therefore, it is common to talk about light topics appropriate for such relationships and non-contentious issues, while maintaining a polite attitude.

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So, how about us? Korean speakers tend to be much more reserved with small talk compared to English speakers. Simply put, we are not accustomed to conversations with strangers. Even greeting neighbors frequently encountered in elevators or having light conversations is not very common. If a stranger casually initiates a conversation, people tend to respond with suspicion.

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Looking into the small talk that takes place in our society, it seems to reveal our attitude toward strangers. We tend to show an attitude that almost ignores the very existence of strangers who do not belong to the category of 'us.' And it seems we have already become accustomed to such mutual attitudes.

Situations where this attitude is expressed most extremely are when we encounter a small kindness from a stranger or when we commit a minor rudeness toward a stranger. We are not accustomed to expressing gratitude for a stranger's small kindness, nor to apologizing for a minor rudeness committed against a stranger. If the other person is someone we know, the situation is completely different. Expressions of thanks and apologies are exchanged more easily. But if we think about it a little, shouldn't we actually express more gratitude for a stranger's small kindness and seek more forgiveness for minor rudeness toward a stranger?

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Even the people we know now were once strangers. We need to reflect on whether our stinginess with small talk stems from distinguishing and discriminating among members of the community. Even if we part ways and never meet again, we should at least acknowledge each other's existence. Smiling and exchanging light greetings with strangers means recognizing their existence. Through small talk, we are saying to the person in front of us, "You exist. You are not invisible to me."

－Jiyoung Shin, Professor Shin Jiyoung's Language Sensitivity Class, Influential, 18,000 KRW