Follow these timeless tips for being a good conversationalist from The Art of Conversation.

如何成為一名優(yōu)秀的交談?wù)?，下文介紹幾條永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)過(guò)時(shí)的法則：

1. Avoid unnecessary details. 避免不必要的細(xì)節(jié)

Don’t sidetrack. For example, if the time something happened isn’t important, don’t waste time getting it right.

不要鉆牛角尖。例如，某個(gè)時(shí)間發(fā)生的事情并不重要，就不要浪費(fèi)時(shí)間把它弄清楚。

2. Don’t ask another question before the first one has been answered. 在第一個(gè)問(wèn)題沒(méi)有弄明白之前，不要問(wèn)另外一個(gè)問(wèn)題

If you ask how someone’s children are, don’t jump in with your family health before she has answered.

你問(wèn)別人孩子怎么樣，在她回答之前，不要跳躍話題，又問(wèn)人家家人的健康。

3. Do not interrupt another while he is speaking. 別人說(shuō)話時(shí)，不要打斷

Also, try to make your story short, giving the other person a chance to speak and not interrupt.

盡量縮短自己說(shuō)話的時(shí)間，給別人說(shuō)話的機(jī)會(huì)，并且，不打斷。

4. Do not contradict, especially if it’s not important. 不要反駁，尤其是話題不重要的時(shí)候

You are inserting unnecessary details into the person’s story. “The person who contradicts, frequently restates the matter in another way.”

別人說(shuō)話時(shí)，你插入某些不必要的細(xì)節(jié)?！斑@種反駁別人的人，經(jīng)常用另一種方式重述同一件事?！?/p>

5. Do not do all the talking. 不要一直一個(gè)人講話

Ask questions to find out what you both have in common.

尋找話題，找出你倆身上的共同點(diǎn)。

6. Do not always be the hero of your story, however, the story should have a hero. 不要一直做你故事中的英雄，盡管，這個(gè)故事應(yīng)該有一個(gè)英雄

Build up others as well as yourself.

贊賞自己的時(shí)候，不要忘記贊賞別人

7. Choose a subject of mutual interest. 選擇一個(gè)雙方都感興趣的話題

Draw the person’s interests out and don’t “hinge the conversation on politics when it should be on potatoes or on poetry.”

了解對(duì)方的興趣，“應(yīng)該討論土豆或者詩(shī)歌的時(shí)候，不要把話題圍繞在政治上?！?/p>

8. Be a good listener. 做一個(gè)良好的傾聽者

You will naturally become one if you follow the above rules.

如果你遵循這個(gè)規(guī)則，自然就會(huì)成為一個(gè)良好的交談?wù)摺?/p>

9. The conversation should be in harmony with the surroundings.   談話的內(nèi)容應(yīng)該與周圍的環(huán)境相協(xié)調(diào)

Do not “talk about cheese when the moon would be a more fitting topic.” Also, don’t discount the appropriateness of silence.

“當(dāng)月亮可以作為一個(gè)更好的話題的時(shí)候，不要討論奶酪”。同時(shí)，不要對(duì)沉默的適當(dāng)性打折扣。

10. Do not exaggerate. 不要夸大其詞

Not everything is“the best,” “the worst,” or “the funniest.”

世界上沒(méi)有事情是“最好的”、“最壞的”，或者“最有意思的”。

11. Do not misquote. 不要錯(cuò)誤的引用

“Use the quotation for the occasion; do not make an occasion for the quotation.”

“為了特殊的場(chǎng)合使用引用，而不是因?yàn)橐枚圃煲粋€(gè)特殊的場(chǎng)合?！?/p>

12. Cultivatet act. 培養(yǎng)你的圓滑

Do not be untruthful, but also don’t feel the need to be hurtful. Do not say someone looks unwell, sick, or tired. This will do nothing to further conversation and only make the person uncomfortable. Don’t hint a tit either by asking if she had a long night. Remember silence is anoption. “Say the right thing, or say nothing.”

不要說(shuō)謊話，但是也沒(méi)必要覺(jué)得謊話不好。不要說(shuō)別人看起來(lái)身體不好，生病，或者疲倦。這對(duì)你們倆進(jìn)一步交談沒(méi)有任何好處，只會(huì)讓對(duì)方覺(jué)得不舒服。也不要用“你是否想要一個(gè)漫長(zhǎng)的夜晚”來(lái)暗示別人。記住，沉默也是一種選擇?！罢f(shuō)正確的話，或者什么都不說(shuō)”。