Chapter V Talking During the Break

I. Useful encouraging phrases to show your interest and to stimulate the flow of conversation

Then what happened?      Good.                Ah.

 

Really?                 Right.                That's right.

 

Oh?                    Right, I will. Go on...

 

Oh, hmm.               I think it's a good one.    For instance.

 

Yes.                   No.                   For example.

 

Yes, of course.          Sorry, I can't.            Such as.

 

Yes, that's right.          I'm afraid not.           Tell me more.

 

Yes, I do.               Well, not really.          Then?

 

Yes, he was.             Perhaps not difficult.      Really?

 

Yes, we were.           Erin, I don't know.         Is that right?

 

Very nice.               I really can't manage it.    Is that so?

 

Very good.              Not very nice.           Are you sure? 

 

Very clear.              Very bad.               (laughter)  .....

 

Really nice.             Very disagreeable.

 

Quite nice.              Really nasty.             (silence...)

 

Quite, absolutely true.     Aha.

 

II. Informal Talking between Participants

A: What would you like?

 

B: A coffee, please.

 

A: I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at the airport. I had to pick up Dr. Abel and bring him here.                      ,'

 

B: That doesn't matter. Dr. Abel? Isn't he the keynote speaker tomorrow?

 

A: Yes, that's right. He's the American scholar on Electronics. Mr. Li should have picked him up, but he had an accident yesterday morning. Nothing serious, but something was wrong with his car.

 

B: Well, what's new in your department since I left?

 

A: Oh, nothing, really. How are you enjoying the work?

 

B: Oh, it's very interesting, I must say. I've learnt a lot. Perhaps we'll find time to talk about it. We've had some interesting results.

 

A: Would you like to have dinner with me?

 

B: Yes, that would be very nice.

 

One Participant Being Introduced to another Participant

 

A: Dr. Kerridge, may I introduce you to Dr. Hyman?

 

B: Glad to meet you. 

 

C: Glad to meet you too.

 

B: I'm pleased to meet you at last. I've heard so much about you from Dr. Liu. I belive you're doing research in the field of statistics.

 

C: That's right.

 

B: I was most interested to hear about your recent paper on descriptive statistics. Do you think you could let me have a copy?                  

 

C: I'd be delighted to. In fact, I've got a few. spare copies with me. I'll bring one with me tomorrow.

 

B: Thank you very much.

 

III. Initiating a Conversation

A: Excuse me, aren't you Dr. Engleton?

 

B: Yes.

 

A: Let me introduce myself. I'm Li Hong from China.

 

B: Nice to meet you, Mr. Li.

 

A: Nice to meet you too. I'd appreciate the chance to talk to you some time.

 

B: That's very kind of you. What do you think of the morning session?

 

A: It's been most interesting so far, hasn't it?

 

III. Additional Samples

[sample l]

 

A: Excuse me, could you tell me where Professor Dubrovik's talk will be held?

 

B: I beg your pardon?

 

A: I didn't quite understand the announcement in the plenary session.

 

B: I'm sorry, but I didn't quite understand you. Would you mind repeating that, please?

 

A: I would like to know where Professor Dubrovnik is.                           

 

B: Ah, Professor Dubrovnik! He's in Room 203.

 

A: Thank you very much.

 

B: Not at all. Do you know, Dr. C, I believe my English is getting worse, not better.

 

C: No, no, Dr. B. I'm afraid I didn't understand that gentleman either.

 

B: Well, thank goodness for that. Now, where is that new interdisciplinary group meeting?

 

C: I think they said in the small room next to the main lecture hall.

 

B: Ah, yes. There it is. Thank you.

 

C: I'll see you later for lunch, then. I hope you enjoy the morning session.

 

B: Thanks. I'm sure I will. Same to you!

 

C: Oh, Dr. B.

 

B: Yes?

 

C: If you wait for me after the session, I'll come and pick you up.

 

B: Fine, I'll do that.

 

 [ Sample 2]

 

A: Ah, there you are, Dr B! How did your meeting go?

 

B: It was very interesting, but I must admit, I found some parts very difficult to understand.

 

A: Oh, why was that?

 

B: Well, a lot of members in the group used specialist vocabulary, and it wasn't always easy to understand what they meant.

 

A: Yes, I know what you mean. I often have the same difficulties at conferences like this. Sometimes I have the feeling that they are speaking a foreign language, even though I know that they're using English! I'm sure I would have had the same trouble if I'd been in your group.

 

B: Still, I got a lot out of the group discussion, and I'm looking forward to the afternoon session.

 

A: Good. Now what about a drink? All this talking makes a man thirsty!

 

B: Good idea! It's my turn, I think.

 

[ Sample 3 ]

 

At poster session

 

A: May I introduce myself? I'm... from....  I missed your presentation this morning.    Will you tell me something about your study?

 

B: Oh, you are Dr A. I've known you by name through a number of papers on... I'm so    glad to meet you. I think our work may be similar and I'd like to hear your views.

 

A: I'll be very glad to do so. But first I'd like to ask a question. How did you separate these two fractions? Did you use an ordinary chromatographic method?

 

B: No, it's not that simple because their retention times are very similar. That makes it difficult to find a really appropriate separation column.

 

A: How did you manage it?

 

B: We used a kind of trick which turned out to be surprisingly successful. The trick was to use an optically active urea lattice which forms a diastereoisomeric pair when mixed with the material .to be solved.

 

A: I'm not familiar with the urea technology. I'd like to hear more...

 

B: May I have one of the leaflets?

 

A: By all means. Here you are.

 

B: Thank you.

 

A: I wonder if you could send me a publication copy of your paper when it's ready.

 

B: Certainly, I’ll be glad to do so; May I have your home address?

 

A: Of course. Let me write it for you.

 

B: Please put it in my notebook, if you don't mind.

 

A: Please keep me informed of the progress of your work.

 

B: Goodbye !