Conversational Ballgames Outline
CONVERSATIONAL BALLGAMES OUTLINE
Thesis : Japanese-style conversations develop quite differently from Western-style conversations.
Body:
I. A Western-style conversation between two people is like a game of tennis. A. If I introduce a topic, a conversational ball, I expect you to hit it back.
1. I don’t expect you simply to agree and do nothing more.
2. I expect you to add something-a reason of agreeing, another example or an elaboration.
3. I am just happy if you question me, or challenge me, or completely disagree with me. B. Whether you agree or disagree, your response will return the ball to me. C. When it is my turn again, I don’t serve a new ball from my original starting line. 1. I hit your ball back again from where it has bounced. 2. I carry your idea further, or answer your questions. D. The ball goes back and forth, with each of us doing our best to give it a new twist, an original spin, or a powerful smash. E. The more vigorous the action, the more interesting and exciting the game. 1. If someone gets angry, it spoils the conversation.
II. A Japanese-style conversation however is not at all like tennis or volleyball but it is like a bowling. A. You have to wait for your turn. 1. You always know your place in line. 2. It depends on whether you are older or younger, a close friend or a relative stranger, in senior or junior position, and so on. B. When your turn comes, you step up to the starting line with your bowling ball, and carefully bowl it. 1. Everyone stands back and watches politely, murmuring encouragement. 2. Everyone waits until the ball has reached the end of the alley, and watches to see if it knocks down all the pins or only some of them. 3. There is a pause while everyone registers your score. C. After
Thesis : Japanese-style conversations develop quite differently from Western-style conversations.
Body:
I. A Western-style conversation between two people is like a game of tennis. A. If I introduce a topic, a conversational ball, I expect you to hit it back.
1. I don’t expect you simply to agree and do nothing more.
2. I expect you to add something-a reason of agreeing, another example or an elaboration.
3. I am just happy if you question me, or challenge me, or completely disagree with me. B. Whether you agree or disagree, your response will return the ball to me. C. When it is my turn again, I don’t serve a new ball from my original starting line. 1. I hit your ball back again from where it has bounced. 2. I carry your idea further, or answer your questions. D. The ball goes back and forth, with each of us doing our best to give it a new twist, an original spin, or a powerful smash. E. The more vigorous the action, the more interesting and exciting the game. 1. If someone gets angry, it spoils the conversation.
II. A Japanese-style conversation however is not at all like tennis or volleyball but it is like a bowling. A. You have to wait for your turn. 1. You always know your place in line. 2. It depends on whether you are older or younger, a close friend or a relative stranger, in senior or junior position, and so on. B. When your turn comes, you step up to the starting line with your bowling ball, and carefully bowl it. 1. Everyone stands back and watches politely, murmuring encouragement. 2. Everyone waits until the ball has reached the end of the alley, and watches to see if it knocks down all the pins or only some of them. 3. There is a pause while everyone registers your score. C. After