Most workplace talk in fact falls on a continuumbetween core business talk and phatic communion(or small talk). Core business talk is relevant to thecore business of the organisation, and is focused,context-bound, on-task and has a high informationcontent, while phatic communion is not relevant tothe core business of the organisation, but is importantfor its affective (or social) content. Small talk is avital part of workplace interaction, helping to oil thewheels of workplace communication.Small talk serves 1) discourse functions withinworkplace communication, such as marking theboundaries of interactions, e.g. meetings, or topicswithin a meeting. 2) as a time-filler, e.g. in a situation Most workplace talk in fact falls on a continuumbetween core business talk and phatic communion (or small talk). Core business talk is relevant to the core business of the organization, and is focused, context-bound, on-task and has a high information content, while phatic communion is not relevant tothe core business of the organization, but is important for its affective (or social) content. Small talk is avital part of workplace interaction, helping to oil the wheels of workplace communication. , such as marking theboundaries of interactions, eg meetings, or topicswithin a meeting. 2) as a time-filler, eg in a situation