1. According to linguists, there are several rules for maintaining natural conversation, and if you break any one of the rules, the conversation will seem strange.
2. In communication, we should try to use not only correct but also appropriate words in order to convey our intended meaning clearly without misunderstanding and to avoid causing the listener to feel any unpleasantness.
3. When you ask someone to do something, you should use gentle and indirect expressions such as “Would you mind opening the window?” instead of direct expressions such as “Open the window.”
4. It is not clear whether we will be able to enjoy natural conversations with computers or not, because it is very difficult for computers to choose words that fit the situation.

Fill in the blanks, thinking back to the answer to the question following each section numbers. Read the finished summary aloud.

Linguists say there are general ①（rules for natural conversation）. However, in real-life communication, speakers sometimes bend the rules and use statements that have ②（an implicit meaning）. Such statements can vary according to the situation. Also, listeners must interpret the meaning of what the speaker says, and the speaker must make his or her intention known to the listener in order ③（not to create misunderstanding）. For speakers, ④（selecting the proper words） for the situation is also important in order to make communication go smoothly. However, overly polite language can ⑤（create distance and cause discomfort） when the listener is a friend. We must keep in mind that it is necessary for what we say during a conversation to be ⑥（not only correct but also appropriate） if we are to avoid misunderstandings.