* 5 Directing a Conversation (p.2 of 8)

5.4 ï¿½ï¿½When you mention additional things

Et cetera.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½In school we play football, soccer, basketball, tennis, et cetera.ï¿½>

And so on.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½At the grocery store I bought bread, milk, vegetables, fruit, and so on.ï¿½>

And so forth.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½People in the disaster zone need water, food, blankets, tents, and so forth.ï¿½>

And all like that.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This band plays jazz, rock, country, folk, and all like that.ï¿½>

And everything like that.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½At the clothes department they sell shirts, skirts, suits, dresses, and everything like that.ï¿½>

And one more thing.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I want to add one more item to those I have already listed.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½And one more thing. Donï¿½t walk around alone after dark. It may be dangerous.ï¿½>

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5.5ï¿½ï¿½ When a speaker deviates from the main topic

Youï¿½re getting off the subject.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Stop arguing in circles. You are getting off the subject.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re begging the question.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are trying to evade the issue.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Itï¿½s impossible to argue with you. You are begging the question.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s not the point.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½That is not the issue.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Yes, I understand that you have personal issues. But thatï¿½s not the point. You are a sportsman, and you need to show results.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s beside the point.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½That is outside the scope of the issue.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You are a great artist, no doubt. But thatï¿½s beside the point. Your art should generate income. Simply put, you need money.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s beside the question.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½That is outside the scope of the question under discussion.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <Youï¿½re going into nonessential detail. Thatï¿½s beside the question. Donï¿½t shift our debate off the subject.ï¿½>

That has nothing to do with it.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I donï¿½t understand why you refer to your unhappy childhood while we are investigating the accident you caused. That has nothing to do with it.ï¿½>

That has nothing to do with what Iï¿½m talking about.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½m glad to hear that. However that has nothing to do with what Iï¿½m talking about.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s not at issue.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½m going to disregard the sad story of your life and all that. Thatï¿½s not at issue.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s not the issue.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I admit, this product has some drawbacks and could be improved technically. But thatï¿½s not the issue. This product failed to find its niche in the market. This is why I propose to discontinue its production.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s irrelevant.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Why are you bringing that up? Thatï¿½s irrelevant.ï¿½>

Thatï¿½s another story.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I understand that your question is somehow related to our discussion. But thatï¿½s another story.ï¿½>

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5.6ï¿½ï¿½ When you want a speaker to get to the point

Get to the point.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Make your most important statement.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Youï¿½ve been talking for half an hour already. Get to the point. Donï¿½t go into detail.ï¿½>

Whatï¿½s your point?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½What is your most important statement?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½OK, I understand all that. Whatï¿½s your point?ï¿½>

Whatï¿½s the point?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½ve heard your story. Whatï¿½s the point?ï¿½>

Spare me the details.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Donï¿½t dwell on the details of secondary importance.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½All right, spare me the details, get to the point.ï¿½>

What are you saying?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½The total income of our family has been decreasing in recent years.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What are you saying? That we havenï¿½t been frugal enough?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½No. Iï¿½m saying that we havenï¿½t been making enough money.ï¿½>

What are you trying to say?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Itï¿½s very expensive to keep a hospital in our town.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What are you trying to say? That we donï¿½t need a hospital in our town?ï¿½>

What are you trying to tell me?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Your husband is abusive. Also, he drinks to excess.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What are you trying to tell me? That I need to leave my husband?ï¿½>

What are you trying to get at?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Boss, studies show that one college graduate can do the job of three retirement-age employees.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What are you trying to get at? That Iï¿½m too old to work here?ï¿½>

What are you getting at?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I have much work to do.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What are you getting at? Are we going to have our mini-vacation this weekend or not?ï¿½>

What do you mean?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I donï¿½t quite understand what you are saying. What do you mean?ï¿½>

What do you mean to tell me?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Darling, wouldnï¿½t it be wonderful to eat at a restaurant tonight?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½My dearest wife, what do you mean to tell me? Have you burned the dinner again?ï¿½>

Whatï¿½s the bottom line?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Whatï¿½s the conclusion?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½ve been patiently listening to you for a long time. Whatï¿½s the bottom line?ï¿½>

Cut to the chase.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Go directly to the point.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Why donï¿½t you stop this chatter and cut to the chase?ï¿½>

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5.7ï¿½ï¿½ When you request an answer

Whatï¿½s your answer?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½What is your response or decision?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½We made you our offer. Whatï¿½s your answer?ï¿½>

Whatï¿½s your response?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½m offering you a fair price for your boat. What is your response?ï¿½>

What do you say?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½What do you say in response?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I can give you a hundred dollars for your old motorcycle. What do you say?ï¿½>

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5.8ï¿½ï¿½ When you ask for details or explanation

Why?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½For what reason? For what purpose? What caused it? Please explain.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I closed the window.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Why? Itï¿½s pretty hot today.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Flies and mosquitoes might come in.ï¿½>

Why not?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Why are you saying no?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I donï¿½t think you need to eat so much ice cream.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Why not? I like it.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½There is much sugar in it.ï¿½>

How so?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½How does it happen in such a way? Please explain.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Not all arctic birds suffer from global warming.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½How so?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Some birds thrive in warmer climate.ï¿½>

How come?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½How did it come about? Why?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You are expecting a new earthquake in the next few years. How come?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I have a hunch.ï¿½>

Why do you think so?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½What allows you to make this conclusion?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You are stating that Mrs. Smith is innocent. Why do you think soï¿½? ï¿½ ï¿½I have evidence.ï¿½>

Why do you think that?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This week is going to be colder than usual.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Why do you think that?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I watched the weather channel on TV last night.ï¿½>

What makes you think so?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½The Moon is getting farther from the Earth with every turn.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What makes you think so?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Actually, I donï¿½t know. I read about it in some scientific magazine.ï¿½>

What makes you so sure?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This car is out of order.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What makes you so sure?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I canï¿½t start the engine.ï¿½>

How do you know that?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½What is the source of this information?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You claim that the suspect was at the crime scene. How do you know that?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I was there myself.ï¿½>

Could you explain it in more detail?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I heard your point. However I missed something, I guess. Could you explain it in more detail?ï¿½>

Could you provide some details?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <When the press secretary finished his briefing on the incident, the head of the press corps asked him, ï¿½Could you provide some details?ï¿½>

Could you give me an example?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Youï¿½re saying that medieval Japanese poetry is highly emotional. Could you give me an example?ï¿½>

Can you illustrate that?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You are stating that your new analytical method is more accurate than alternative ones. Can you illustrate that?ï¿½>

Could you tell a little more about it?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <The journalist asked the general, ï¿½We understand this military operation is top secret. However, could you tell a little more about it?ï¿½>

Could you elaborate on that?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ < ï¿½I guess your plan is good. But I didnï¿½t quite understand the last part. Could you elaborate on that?ï¿½>

Is there anything else you can tell me?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Thank you for your information. I appreciate your honesty. Is there anything else you can tell me?ï¿½>

What else can you tell me about it?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with can or could)ï¿½ï¿½ <The journalist told the witness, ï¿½Iï¿½ve heard your testimony. This is a very unusual case. What else can you tell me about it? Do you have any private information to share?ï¿½>

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