- published: 16 Nov 2011
- views: 10424555
Conversation is a form of interactive, spontaneous communication between two or more people. Typically it occurs in spoken communication, as written exchanges are usually not referred to as conversations. The development of conversational skills and etiquette is an important part of socialization. The development of conversational skills in a new language is a frequent focus of language teaching and learning.
Conversation analysis is a branch of sociology which studies the structure and organization of human interaction, with a more specific focus on conversational interaction.
No generally accepted definition of conversation exists, beyond the fact that a conversation involves at least two people talking together. Consequently, the term is often defined by what it is not. A ritualized exchange such a mutual greeting is not a conversation, and an interaction that includes a marked status differential (such as a boss giving orders) is also not a conversation. An interaction with a tightly focused topic or purpose is also generally not considered a conversation. Summarizing these properties, one authority writes that "Conversation is the kind of speech that happens informally, symmetrically, and for the purposes of establishing and maintaining social ties."
Words spoken in hearts and minds on late night drives
when nothing is alive except for my imagination
and how far it takes me and how it breaks me
I rehearse the same old lines
the ones I said to make you mine
the ones I said that day we met
the one you didn't say when you left
but it's only in my mind, you won't hear them this time
because you're far away
and you can't hear what I don't say
sometimes it's easier to talk to the you that's in my
head
because you don't get upset, and I don't say things I
regret
but only in my mind
it's not fair to expect that of you
because I don't expect that of me
so what does this mean
and what will it be
we're not who we were, and we're not what we want
but who will we be, is it worth waiting on
we will not sit down, there's nothing to talk about
it's much better now as a one-sided conversation
it's all in here, it's all inside, it's always perfect
there