4.1.In conversational Involvement: There are 2 main conversation patterns that people from some cultures value :

4.1.1.High involvement conversation patterns (Russians, Italians, Arabians, South Americans) : participants tend to :(1) talk more;(2) interrupt more;(3) expect to be interrupted;(4) talk more loudly at times;(5) talk more quickly than those from cultures favoring high considerateness styles;(6) enjoy arguments; and (7) think that others are not interested if they are not ready to engage in a heated discussion.

4.1.2.High considerateness conversation patterns (Americans, Chineses, Japaneses,...) : participants tend to :(1) speak one at a time;(2) use polite listening sounds;(3) refrain from interrupting; and(4) give plenty of positive and respectful responses to their conversation partners.

4.4.There are the two main conversation structures :4.4.1.Bowling conversation style (Japanese,...), in which participants wait politely (with long silences)

for a turn (depending on status, age, relationship) and know exactly when the time is right to speak.When it is time to take a turn, the person bowls carefully. The others watch politely, and do not leave their places in line or take a turn out of order. No one else speaks until the ball has reached the bowling pins.

Answers to questions are carefully thought out, rather than blurted out

4.4.2.Ping-Pong conversation style (Americans,...), in which one person has the ball and then hits it to the other side of the table. The other player hits the ball back and the game continues. If one person doesn’t return the ball, then the conversation stops. Each part of the conversation follows this pattern : the greeting and the opening, the discussion of a topic, and then the closing and the farewell. Don’t monopolize the conversation - don’t talk too much.

If someone monopolizes a person or a conversation, they talk a lot or stop other people being involved. He/she will take over and control the conversation completely.

Similarly, if one person doesn’t say enough or ask enough questions to keep the conversation moving, the conversation stops.

American will hold their conversation which it seems like they are having a Ping pong gameThis analogy is used to contrast the American conversation style with the Japanese one

Ping Pong conversation style Bowling conversation style

- A player starts the game by hitting the ball to the other side of the table.

- The other player must react quickly and hit it back.

- If one person do not hit the ball back, the game stops.-- If either player takes too long to “play the ball”, the other may become impatient and feel the first player is not focusing on the game.- If players have different playing styles, it is hard to get a good rally going.

- Players wait politely for a turn.- Players watch other players politely

and appreciate their movement and strategy.

- When it is time to take a turn, the player considers carefully how to accomplish the objective.- Players do not speak until the ball has reached the bowling pins.- Players praise each other’s plays