Learning English

TRANSCRIPT

Yvonne
Hello - I'm Yvonne Archer and this is How To from bbclearningenglish.com, where we feature some of the most useful everyday English.
When a group of friends speak different languages, but speak in English when they're together, sometimes the conversation simply doesn't flow and it comes to a stop.

But it is possible to extend a conversation even with a limited vocabulary and have some fun?

EXAMPLE
If you breathe in really sharply (demonstrates) like that. That shows that you're really surprised or you're really shocked at what you've been told.

Yvonne
Native speakers make use of linking words as well as various sounds to keep a conversation going and to show interest in what someone is saying.
And these sounds can certainly help to keep a conversation lively!
Here's how Carrie and I extended our conversation just as it seemed to be ending.
We were sharing some office gossip so the topic wasn't important or official and was very informal.
You'll notice that we used very few words and ooh and ummm sounds are just as important. What do you think those sounds tell us?

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Well, you see; it pays to be in the office sometimes.

Yvonne
Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Carrie
Yes, yes, yes.

Yvonne
I've got a bit of gossip for you.

Carrie
Go on, go on, go on.

Yvonne
Guess who's seeing who?

Carrie
In the office?

Yvonne
In the office.

Carrie
Ummmmm - give us a clue.

Yvonne
Ooh sounds can be used to show that you've just remembered something really exciting and worth talking about.

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Well, you see; it pays to be in the office sometimes.

Yvonne
Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Yvonne
The ummm sound that Carrie used indicated that she was taking some time to think of an answer to my question.

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Ummmmm - give us a clue.

Yvonne
So we've heard two small sounds which made our conversation fun and exciting, and helped us to extend it. Here's another chance to hear that conversation about two people in our office.
This time, listen out for how many times I say ooh, and how many times Carrie says the word yes and the short phrase go on.

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Well, you see; it pays to be in the office sometimes.

Yvonne
Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Carrie
Yes, yes, yes.

Yvonne
I've got a bit of gossip for you.

Carrie
Go on, go on, go on.

Yvonne
Guess who's seeing who?

Carrie
In the office?

Yvonne
In the office.
Carrie

Ummmmm - give us a clue.

Yvonne
I said ooh three times and very quickly - ooh, ooh, ooh - and Carrie did the same with yes and go on to encourage me to carry on talking. So three is a good number!

You're listening to How To from bbclearningenglish.com and we're looking at ways to extend a conversation and make it more interesting by using various sounds.

As our conversation continued, I let Carrie know that I couldn't tell her the names of the people we were talking about.
That was a secret. But listen to the sound Carrie made to show her frustration - to indicate that she wasn't pleased:

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Who is it?

Yvonne
I can't say.

Carrie
Oh you - arrrrgh!

Yvonne
I've been sworn to secrecy.

Carrie
You can't tell me half a story and not tell me who's getting engaged or going out.

Yvonne
Calm down, calm down.

Carrie
Argh! Ummm - can I guess?

Yvonne
Carrie said, Arrrgh! when she first realised that I wasn't going to tell her what she wanted to know.

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Oh you - arrrrgh!

Yvonne
I've been sworn to secrecy.

Yvonne
And then she made a shorter, softer version of the same sound to show that she was still frustrated but again said, Ummm, because this time, she was thinking of a way to get those names from me.

EXAMPLE

Carrie
Argh! Ummm - can I guess?

Yvonne
I'm just making you aware of the situation.

Yvonne
Well, I kept my secret and Carrie is still trying to guess who the people are!
At first, those types of sounds we've heard might feel strange to use.
But you probably already use them when speaking in your own language, so why not have some fun and try a few out when you're next having a conversation in English?
Use them to show your interest, to help make the conversation exciting, and to encourage someone to continue with the conversation.
Now it's worth mentioning gestures and facial expressions, even though we can't see them here! Here are some that the team at BBC Learning English sometimes use to extend a conversation:

EXAMPLES
If you shake your head slowly, as if you're saying no when somebody is telling you something sad, that makes it look as though you're sympathetic.
If you smile from time to time, that can be encouraging.
Don't smile too often though, because the person you're listening to might wonder whether you actually understand what they're saying.

Yvonne
Now, have fun listening out for some more of those sounds when you're at the shops, when you're on a bus - in fact, anywhere where people are speaking English.
And look out for some of those gestures. I'm sure you'll have fun trying them out!