How to talk to anyone: the experts' guide

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This article, written by Rosie Ifould highlights some of the main tips for talking to your children, parents, strangers and bosses. It includes interviews and quotes from family therapist Karen Holford, Susan RoAne, Dr Ayan Panja, Dan Williams and Madeleine Mason, Linda Blair and David Cairncross.

Karen Holford gives the advice that when speaking to children, we should try to understand what they are saying instead of picking up on mistakes of language. This will help them to realise that we are listening and do care, as well as asking questions - this makes us seem like we are listening, even if we aren't. 'Try to meet your child’s emotions, rather than telling them how to feel.'

Susan RoAne, the author of 'How To Work A Room' speaks about how to talk to strangers. At first, the situation may be awkward, but we need to remember 'that most people in any room feel uncomfortable' and we need to accommodate them, because the chances are that they're feeling the same way.

Step away from your phone: The new rules of conversation

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This article written by Oliver Burkeman highlights the idea that people, especially kids are living in a virtual world while simultaneously living in reality.

Burkeman speaks about the attitudes we have towards each other and how when in public, we don't act how we used to around people. he states that he has witnessed people communicating on their phones with other people, while being face to face with someone initiating a conversation. He explains that situations like these are what is dividing us - 'We’re more connected than ever, yet we talk – really talk – less and less.'

The fact that people use online social media in order to create a virtual life for themselves may be a way for us to completely change ourselves, with no real life implications. Obviously there are exceptions; many problems occur online. However, we can be whoever we want to be because we are simply behind a screen. Contrastingly, he says 'Anyway, don’t we edit ourselves offline just as much as in cyberspace – in our choice of clothes and haircut and makeup and the books we carry on the train?'

The overall verdict of this article is that we are increasingly using social media which is affecting our social skills in every day life. Even kids are becoming 'skilled' at multi tasking - concentrating on their phones while keeping a conversation going.

Stereotypes with Language and Gender

Here are some main ideas about how the stereotypes of men and women portray people.

• Women gossip
• Men are strong and silent
• Women talk about domestic and personal trivia
• Men talk about important things such as business, money and government
• Women have soft and gentle voices
• Women screech
• Men have deep, reassuring tones
• Men convey confidence and authority