Conversing

Making conversation
Having conversation

Description

Conversing is the deliberate exchange of information, ideas, or perspectives through spoken or written dialogue to foster understanding, resolve misunderstandings, and build relationships. This strategy enables individuals or groups to clarify intentions, negotiate solutions, and address conflicts by actively listening and responding. Practically, conversing remedies miscommunication, reduces isolation, and facilitates cooperation, making it an essential tool for problem-solving, consensus-building, and effective collaboration in diverse social, organizational, and intercultural contexts.

Context

In Western cultures, linguists often regard conversation as proceeding according to four principles or "maxims set out in 1975 by British philosopher of language Paul Grice.

The maxim of quality: be truthful; do not give information that is false or not supported by evidence.

The maxim of quantity: be as informative as is required; don’t give too much or too little information.

The maxim of relevance: only give information that is relevant to the topic under discussion.

The maxim of manner: be clear, brief, and orderly; avoid obscurity and ambiguity.