SMALL TALK: KEEPING THE CONVERSATION GOING
Randy Hemp from the U.S. is visiting a customer in Taiwan.
He is talking to the Production Manager of a manufacturing plant in Teipei.
Manager: Is this your first visit here?
Hemp: No, in fact the first time I came was for a trade fair.
We began our East Asian operations here at the 1999 Exhibiton.
Manager: Shall we have a look around the plant before lunch?
a) What is the wrong with what the production manager says?
The answer is of course that it breaks a rule of conversation. Generally if you ask
a question you should comment on the answer or ask a supplementary question.
b) Now, suggest a better version of the same conversation