Interpreting the Minimum Raise in No Limit Holdem

Sometimes the communication in poker can be extremely subtle and more than a little confusing. Mixed signals abound. Yes can mean no, no can mean maybe, and maybe can mean go soak your head. So what is a player making the minimum raise in a hand of No Limit Holdem trying to say? If you don't know the player and are unfamiliar with his style and experience this sort of small raise means one of two things. It means either the player is inexperienced and has no idea what they are doing, or that the player is trying to generate some action at the table in order to get some big money for their hand.