What Conversations Actually Mean


Friend: Hi, Anishka! What’s up?
Me: Nothing much, you?
Friend: Nothing much.
Me: Do you want to go to eat Italian food for dinner?
Friend: I just had Italian yesterday, maybe we can go eat Chinese and then go watch a movie.
Me: Hmm….ok. Do you think you could give me a ride to the restaurant?
Friend: Sure, no problem!
At restaurant:
Friend: MMMM, that looks delicious! I haven’t had dumplings in so long.
Me: Uh...ok would you like some?
Friend: Really?! Thanks!
The End

Representation of how “words don’t mean what they mean:”
Friend: Hi, Anishka! What’s up?
Me: Well, my cat just died so I don’t really want to be here right now. I’m not even that hungry so we shouldn’t go out to dinner but you keep saying you’re hungry so I guess we have to go, you?
Friend: My life is pretty boring so nothing much.
Me: I want Italian food. Let’s go.
Friend: I didn’t have Italian yesterday but I’m going to say I did so I can get Chinese food.
Me: Fine. Drive me to the restaurant.
Friend: I don’t want to waste my gas on you, and can’t you get your own ride? But I’ll drive you for today I guess.
At restaurant:
Friend: Give me some dumplings.
Me: No.
The End

It is evident that people often don’t speak by using commands but rather by using “whimperatives” and “calculated ambiguity” in order to maintain their relationships as well as convey their message in a proper way.

Comments

  1. Jahnavi BMarch 18, 2018 at 3:54 PM

    Anishka, I love this! It was so interesting to see two different conversations and the interpretations of what you and your friend said beyond their literal meanings. Reminded me of how we analyze text in class to look for deeper messages. Great job!

    ReplyDelete

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