Please Tell me what to say...

Hi,

Well, where are you when you want to do this? Is there anything in particular that you want to ask or talk about?

If it's a stranger, you might begin with 'Excuse me, . . . . ' and then just ask your question.

Best wishes, Clive

Hello Himadri,

As Clive has suggested, you could begin with 'Excuse me' and then 'Hi, I'm Himadri (your name). You could also refer to who you are/what you do. For example if you are speaking to a fellow student, you could say 'I am a first year student in the Junior College. Are you a first year student too?'

If you are going to approach someone you have often seen somewher

Thanks Clive and Binita

Binita let me give you a situation which I have just faced this morning. I was in my small garden loking here and there suddinly I found two small children talking with each other in english. It really surprised me because they are not Indians so I tried to talk with them by saying "Excuseme where you live" but they didn't reply me. I though may be I asked them th

If they were small children they may well just have been taught not talk to strangers, so it might not have been personal.

However, you were a bit abrupt with them. 'Excuse me' is a way of interupting someone, or politely 'forcing' yourself on someone. IT is the sort of thing you say if you are lost and want a passer-by to stop and give you directions. It isn't really how you would start

Thank you nona the brit

Would you please tell me that if I take the initiative to talk and the one dont show any interest at that point of time what to say because it would become a matter of prestige.

Thanking you

yours truly, Himadri Roy

You mean if they just ignore you?

'Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you' and walk off.

or if they answer but seem very reluctant

'Ok, I've got to go now, bye' and walk off.

Thank you nona the brit

I got yout point but let me give you another situation where for say more than two people are there and I am one of them and by somehow they are talking on a topic which is in very little knowledge of mine or I don't have any idea on that particular topic on which all the people are talking. What shoud I do then - should I see their faces and make myself fool out t

Well you can't pretend to know something you don't know. So i'ts better to be honest and say that you don't know much/don't know anything about the topic they are discussing. There is absolutely no harm is saying that. It won't make you look like a fool. Half knowledge is almost always dangerous.

Also Himadri, why do you want to approach strangers? Why don't you start conversing wit

These are more social skills than language ones you are looking for. I know it can be difficult when you don't have much confidence. I used to be terribly shy but as my work involves a lot of interaction with people I gradually learned the skills and now feel comfortable approaching anyone and talking about anything. It just takes practise.

If people are discussing something I don't know

Being a good LISTENER is a big part of being seen as a good conversationalist.

Also, there is currently a discussion topic about how to make "small talk." That may help to.