Chuck Grimes wrote:
> not to mention, the apparently un-artful ordinary
> conversation.
Most conversation appears to be phatic -- that is, there is little or no relation between content and purpose, the latter being primarily the recognition of the existence of others in the conversation and the (implicit) demand for recognition. This is one of the reasons classroom conversation is usually so unproductive, for in so called "class discussion" the non-relationship between purpose and content becomes hopelessly muddled. There is an implict demand that only the content can justify the recognition on the one hand, and on the other hand the only purpose of speaking is to achieve recognition from a third party (the instructor). It thus becomes a display of content????? Your hint that conversation may be art is interesting. Could you expand.
Carrol