Knipp:Im Gespräch

Conversation, often supported by facial expressions and gestures, is arguably the most important form of human interaction—whether in private settings, during flirting, in professional environments, or in politics and business. The shift to remote work has obscured how crucial, even inspiring, casual verbal exchanges at the workplace can be. "We remain in conversation," this statement signals a willingness to communicate. When words fall silent, our freedom is also at risk. In dialogue, we come closer to one another, define our boundaries, interpret our world, locate ourselves, and escape loneliness. In this essay, Kersten Knipp explores the various ways in which we connect through speech and why, although words may not have been the beginning of everything, they largely shape our existence.