Organizational pattern

attitude:
1) not ultimatum 2) slips and slides

Organizational pattern

Sect. IV. Para. 20--21 conclusion

Those people who ruin the conversation by trying to talk sense are just like chimpanzees who are not capable of conversation.

1) Anything can start a conversation. It does not need a special topic to start a conversation. And once started, no one knows how or where it will end.
Organizational pattern

4 sections

Sect. I par.1-3


The writer puts forward the theses. 1. Conversation is the most sociable of all human activities. 2. Bar conversation has a charm of its own.

para.5 served as transition shift general discourse to specific one
Language features

4. two different kinds of language


a) colloquial expressions b) copious historical allusions literary allusions

E.g. He indulged heavily in conversation and drink. We indulge in an expensive supper after the concert.
Detailed study of the text

5. Par. 2: What makes a good conversation?
The History of Britain

1.The native people in Britain Celts

--- Celt (language) Latin (language)

2. Roman Conquest 43 AD, ruled for 400 years



3. In 449 Angles, Saxon, and Jutes from Northwest of Germany , conquered the most part of England English --- old English

Detailed study of the text

6. meander leap sparkle glow: mixed metaphor--conversation is a stream conversation is fire meander: (of a river, etc) follow a winding course, flowing slowly
Language features

5. mixed metaphors 6. no big and ract words 7. sentence fragments
Detailed study of the text

1. Topic sentence: the first sentence
Organizational pattern

Sect. III par.12--19 more digressions离题话题 (what the writer thought about after the bar conversation the night before)


Para.12-15 He gives his personal reflection on the history and meaning of the King's English Para.16-19 By the mentioning of dictionaries and salons of 18th Paris, he reveals his attitude towards the King's English

What is King's English? What is pub talk?
Writing style


The title: not very appropriately chosen. Misleading: the writer is going to demonstrate some intrinsic or linguistic relationship between pub talk and the king's English


The point: by describing the charming conversation he had with some people one evening in a pub on the topic ―the King's English". The thesis --- in the opening sentence of Para 1
conversation is an activity which is found only
among human beings.

Animals and birds are not capable of conversation.
Detailed study of the text

4. indulge in --- enjoy; satisfy 容许自己享受； 尽情 allow oneself to have or enjoy
Writing style


The real thesis --- in the 3rd para. ―Bar conversation has a charm of its own‖. A better title:

―The Art of Good Conversation‖ ―The Charms of Conversation‖

The smiths are a sociable family. We spent a sociable evening drinking the other day.
Detailed study of the text

3. And it is an activity only of human…
Writing style


In reality: just discoursing on what makes good conversation. He feels that bar conversation in the pub has a charm of its own.
Writing style
2) What spoils the conversation is people who think they have a lot of important things to say.

Detailed study of the text

3) Conversation is not for making a point. 4) There is no winning in conversation. We may argue but we needn't try to convince others that they are wrong and we are right.


The writer talks about the charm of conversation by illustrations. ―How to Make Good Conversation‖ ―The Charm of Conversation‖
Language features

2. the thesis
The History of Britain



4. 9th century, Scandinavian conquest Danish (language) 5. 11th century Norman Conquest for 400 years French (language) 6. British people conquered the conquest again. English won its recognition.
Language features

conversational style

loosely organized informal language --
to suit the theme
Language features

Reasons for the informal style:

1. the title misleading

Conversation helps to promote an agreeable pleasant and informal relationship among people.