Among other things, what distinguishes man from other animals is speech and language. The very fact of being man signifies speech and conversation.
Conversation is an expression which is important in many ways. It lessens pain and suffering, multiplies joy, enjoyment and exaltation and enriches experience. Conversation as a tool and vehicle of expression of ideas, emotions and experience is of great importance.
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It is a great boon and blessing and one of the important means of preserving and increasing knowledge. Man can best reveal his mind, intentions, ideas, purpose and personality through words of the mouth or talk. A man is known by his words and talk. A talk reveals a man’s inner being, his thoughts and emotions.
A conversation is also a participation, cooperation and interaction. This is the best means of communication and expression and also the oldest and the richest. Our oldest and most cherished religious and spiritual works were originally in the form of oral communication, conversation and dialogues.
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Conversation is essential for success, social interaction, business, learning and education. In a broader and general sense conversation is very comprehensive and includes a talk, lecture and public speech.
A lecture or talk may be termed as an extension of conversation. In a conversation a talk is confined to two-three persons but in a speech or lecture it extends to many persons forming a large audience.
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Moreover, a speech is more or less one way traffic. While conversation implies intimacy, informality, frankness equal participation, warmth, politeness etc. A good and enjoyable conversation is an art in which both heart and mind are involved in an intimate way.
It is polite, sweet, intelligent, enjoyable and close. The art of conversation is essential for influencing people making friends, increasing following and achieving success. It can be cultivated and developed. It is a great boon which can be possessed by training, practice, patience and perseverance.
One who acquires this art, his labours are fully rewarded. He is welcomed wherever he goes. People like his company and he can become a leader among equals. He will be acceptable and his reputation will acquire wings. A good conversation is always interesting, polite, warm, relaxed natural, spontaneous, rhythmic and comfortable.
A good talker and conversationalist can take his message across successfully, convince the other party and leave the lasting impression. To possess this art one has to be self- confident.
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Self-confidence carries conviction, acceptability and popularity. Success in conversation arises from confidence. To attain self-confidence read as much as possible, acquire knowledge and then practice talking about it with your friends, neighbours, parents and groups of people around you.
Life is full of opportunities to develop this skill. Speak with the shoemaker, vegetable-seller, fellow travellers in the bus and train, engage the people in talking. Exchange ideas, concepts, views and experiences with as many people as possible.
It will empower you, give you confidence and experience. Get yourself involved in others and then get them involved in your sweet, polite, meaningful, warm and relevant talk.
There is nothing like practice. Practice makes a man perfect. Converse with your colleagues, friends and acquaintances on weather, politics, religion, ethics, current topics, personal problems, street hawkers, stray dogs and cows, corruption, criminalization, power— shortage etc. Any topic is good enough to converse and practice.
Make your talk interesting, informative and relevant. Attend lectures, talks and addresses of well-known speakers. It will give you a lot of experience, confidence and material to talk about. Be positive, hopeful and always think of the best. Feel proud and optimistic in talking with others, share their joys, sorrows and activities.
Practice in good conversation is a continuous and ongoing process. The more you talk with various people, the more you possess knowledge, skills, experience and confidence. Exchange of ideas, experiences, joys, fears, emotions, opinions and concepts is likely to prove a great asset in your life and career.
Even a casual talk with somebody somewhere for a brief period will positively add to your knowledge, wisdom and skills of language, expression and communication. Avail yourself of the opportunity of talking to various kinds of people whenever it is there. Moreover, you can create opportunities to talk and converse.
Your conversation even with a poor shoemaker, bus conductor, illiterate farmer or an uneducated house-helper would not go waste. But talk with a purpose, be conscious of your aim and object and never lose sight of what you want to achieve. While conversing with the people always remember the persons you are talking to.
Take into consideration their learning, knowledge, social status, interests, problems, background etc.
Come down to their standard of learning and knowledge if they happen to be not much educated, learned and informed. Never feel superior and assume airs. Always think of the person you are talking to and suit your conversation and knowledge to his or her taste and mental makeup. Be interested and interesting.
Get close to your audience both mentally and physically and never offend them. Your talk should have the full force of your personality. It should be warm, polite, informal and spontaneous. Nothing should be half-hearted and half-baked. Never monopolize the conversation and allow others to speak. Never dictate terms but be friendly, sunny, considerate, liberal and polite.