Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Conversation as a Dance or Drama
French conversation has elements of the dance and
drama. The most popular television programme in Paris
for years was a literary talk show called
Apostrophe
.
They did nothing but provide interesting analysis of
the issues of the day. Raymonde Carroll likens French
conversation to a spider's web. A good one is made up
of many different threads and angles, creating a beautiful
and complex shape at its end. It is unnecessary, in fact,
undesirable, to seek a common point of view. This is less
difi cult for the English, accustomed to the art of debate
than it is for Americans, who normally offer agreement
just to be polite. If you i nd a French person who speaks
English to you, you still want to follow the rules of
French conversation.
Seek topics that will interest your listener.
Keep your commentary lively, animated and brief.
Don't turn a question into a lecture, holding the l oor.
It is rude and worse, it is boring.
Don't make a conversation as an opportunity to
unload your personal problems. Make it an amusing
or horrible incident, if you must focus on your own
life. And keep it short, with some point other than
your own personal history to be made.
Let the focus of the conversation move around to
different topics. Each person should contribute little
snatches of comment, tossing the conversation back
and forth, like a ball.
You can change the subject. But some logical
transition is usually expected. In a restaurant, you can
always talk about the food (a favourite topic and i ne
ice-breaker).
Other good subjects include current events or a recent
incident that gave you an insight worth relating. Try
to offer something constructive and enlightening.
In other words, THINK. And give your conversation
partners the benei t of that effort.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search