Description
Book SynopsisBanter, chit-chat, gossip, natter, tete-a-tete: these are just a few of the terms for the varied ways in which we interact with one another through conversation. David Crystal explores the factors that motivate so many different kinds of talk and reveals the rules we use unconsciously, even in the most routine exchanges of everyday conversation.
Trade ReviewA useful addition to an English teacher's armoury and certain to pique students' interest in the language that happens all around them, all the time... Let's Talk is a powerful statement about our species and the centrality to it of conversation in all its collaborative glory. * Nikolai Luck, Teaching English *
For Crystal, the aim of a conversation is to make everyone happy or, at least, satisfied at the end ... [he] has definitely achieved that. * Training, Language & Culture *
For the teacher or advanced student there are masses of insights in the book and examples of how language is used to manage conversation... For Crystal the aim of a conversation is to make every-one happy or, at least, satisfied at the end. Citing Dr Johnson once again, conversation should create 'a pleasing impression'. David Crystal has definitely achieved that. * Barry Tomalin, Training, Language & Culture *
I've always enjoyed Crystal's books and this one was no exception... it's certainly a good read I would recommend to anyone with an interest in language or conversation. * Shiny New Books *
Table of Contents1: Greetings! 2: In the beginning... 3: A thousand years of conversation 4: Exchanges 5: Taking turns - or not 6: Interrupting 7: What we talk about 8: How we talk about it 9: Taking it easy 10: Story-telling 11: Stylistic options 12: The vocal and the visual 13: Conversation as theatre 14: Online 'conversations' 15: Cultural conversations 16: Breaking the rules 17: Does conversation change? 18: #Almost done Epilogue References Index
