An acting thought: On "Small talk"

Small talk often hides big talk.

Writer's (and character's) often use minimum text (abjuring complex dialogue) as a way for the character to avoid (hide, deny) deep feelings. The paradigm is mid-westerners, Texans and Scandinavians. The use of straightforward declarative sentences (even more minimally: "Yup", "Nope", "Maybe", "Uh-huh") hides deep currents under their 'still waters'.

In acting terms, their text is dramatic opposition to sub-text.