between two or more people who are following rules of etiquette
.
Conversation analysis
is a branch of sociology which studies the structure and organization of human interaction, with a more specific focus on conversational interaction.
Conversations are interactive because contributions to a conversation are response reactions to what has previously been said.
Conversations are spontaneous because a conversation proceeds, to some extent, and in some way, unpredictably.
(wife) "Are you listening to me?" -(Steve Sayles)"yes"-(wife)" Well you are not looking at me"-(Steve Sayles) "I listen to the radio, but I don't sit looking at it!" (2004) Steve Sayles
Egotists cannot converse, they talk to themselves only.
"Many can argue, not many converse."
The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor, and the fourth wit.
The less men think, the more they talk.
When we are in the company of sensible men, we ought to be doubly cautious of talking too much, lest we lose two good things, their good opinion and our own improvement; for what we have to say we know, but what they have to say we know not.
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
The conversational overachiever is someone whose grasp exceeds his reach. This is possible but not attractive.
One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who does not think more of what he is about to say than of answering precisely what is said to him.
The extreme pleasure we take in talking of ourselves should make us fear that we give very little to those who listen to us.