which also are unfortunately taken for granted in the society.

which also are unfortunately taken for granted in the society. 24- Groom the Child in the Art of Conversation A : "Why didn't you turn up"? A : "What time were you there"? A : "Wasn't it 9.00"? A : "So what time did you come"? B : "What makes you think so"? B : "What time did we agree on"? B : "Hadn't you said that would be late"? B : "Precisely 8.00 as agreed" At last the chain of questions countered by questions is broken and the simple information sought became eventually availed.

This is an example of questions being denied information by counter-questions. It is an ugly habit, which is not only annoying and time-wasting but also ill-mannered. Some children are normally found with this habit. Sadly, many of them grow up hardening the habit. They cannot be said to have cultivated 8" congenial disposition. They fail to retain friends. What is worse, the marriage is put at risks if one of the spouses has the habit of responding to questions with questions.

A wife cautiously asked the husband after a few days of the marriage: "Why do you have the habit of avoiding answering a question by a counter question"? His reply was: "Who says this"? Ugly Habit The purpose of conversation is communication, which mainly includes exchanging or imparting information and not avoiding it; and yet. how often we come across the : t annoying examples of the purpose being defeated quite innocently by this ugly habit.

rA polished or refined personality is reflected mainly in the art of conversation. There may be a person who is intelligent. sharp and highly educated and yet he will have failed to master the art. Similarly, a person may look distinguished in appearance. stature or in his walking gait to strangers but is known to his friends and acquaintances as having no matching personality because he lacked the art of conversation.

A person is groomed in the art of conversation either from his childhood or learns by emulating the examples of those who have impressed him by their practice of the art. It is part of the elementary grooming when parents keep reminding children to say: "Please", "Thank You"' "May I", "Al-hamdu Lillsh" (Praise to Allah), "Insha'alla", (Allah willing), etc, in the course of conversation Poor Personality Looking sideways or darting the eyes here and there while talking to a single person.

raising voice unnecessarily. over-gesticulation or dramatisation.