"This conference is well-attended. It seems to draw from a large geographical area." (来源：http://www.EnglishCN.com)

2. Use an open-ended question to encourage a response. 利用开放性的提问吸引对方的回答。

"How did you manage dealing with the traffic today?"

"What type of work do you do?"

"How do you know our host?"

3. Offer a pleasant self-revelation. 表露自己高兴的情绪。

"I just started going to graduate school."

"This is my first time at an annual conference."

4. Ask general questions. 问一些大众问题。

"Where are you from?"

"Do you play sports?"

Start Conversations 发起谈话

Starting conversations can be the most difficult part of small talk. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is. An opening line can get you past the initial awkward moments when you first meet someone. 万事开头难，找个话题开头亦如是。与人闲聊，尤其是和陌生人在一起的时候，该如何得体地打破起初沉默的僵局呢？

你可以说：

Hi! A nice party, isn't it?

Hi, I'm John, what's your name?

I say, aren't you …?

Hi, haven't we met somewhere before?

Excuse me, I hear you are a …

So, how do you know…? (You mention the name of a guest)?

I hope you don't mind my asking, but …

我们可以称呼这些开场白的句子为："openers", "starters", "generators" or "icebreakers"等等。

开场白的注意事项：

A simple introduction, nothing special.

Try not to interrupt someone who is already talking. If someone is already talking to the person, wait for him/her to finish.

Start a conversation based on the circumstances.

Don't talk about depressing issues or sad events.

Find common ground（共同点）. Use simple probing（引起疑问的） questions that are related to things you are interested in.

Questions which have "yes/no" answers are not the best conversation openers.

A comment about a current event can also break the ice, as well as a remark about the event you're at the time.

闲聊开场白的典型例句： Expressions to start a conversation:

Hi! A nice party, isn't it? 这晚会不错，是吗？

Hi, haven't we met somewhere before? 嗨，我们以前在哪儿见过，不是吗？

So, how do you know Chris? 那你是怎么认识Chris的？

I hope you don't mind my asking, but I want to know if you are the person I saw last time. 我希望你不介意，但我想知道你是不是上次我见过的那个人？

So, how about you, Liu? 那么你呢，刘？

Closing Topics 结束交谈

Do you find that your English conversations end rather suddenly? Is there anything we can say before "goodbye" to indicate that we would like to stop talking? The ability to close topics is a very useful but difficult skill.

闲聊中突然蹦出“再见”二字是不是很突兀？那么我们可以说些什么来暗示想要结束闲聊呢？

先来看一段Emily和William的对话：

Emily: And then I'm gonna fly back five and a half weeks later...

William: A changed person--

Emily: Hopefully...

William: You'll come back here, you'll have shaved your head or something. I don't know something completely...

Emily: So who knows what will come, what will happen when I come back, but erm...anyway, so hopefully it will at least be a holiday and I'll get nice weather...hopefully...so...but erm...

William: Do you know any of the people that you're going to be with?

Emily: No, I don't. I don't know anyone, erm, yes. So, I guess I'd better go back to work.

William: Ok...erm--

Emily: I've got loads to do...

William: Oh right. Well, it's nice talking to you.

Emily: Thank you very much.

William: And I'll see you downstairs.

Emily: Yeah.

William: So, bye.

Emily和William在说有关holiday的话题。闲聊中，Emily似乎想结束谈话，于是她使用了"so"，"anyway"和"but"作为暗示。但是显然William没有领会她的意图，以至于继续发问，结果Emily不得不use a stronger method of closing the topic。She said that she had to go back to work--she had loads to do. 这时已经再明显不过，Emily不想再继续谈话了。

小结：你可以用如下技巧暗示对方结束对话

Give your final opinion about the topic;

Summarize what has already been said;

Lead to you saying "goodbye".

典型例句：

But, we shall see if it makes a difference... Anyway, I must be off!

So, it's something, anyway, to look forward to...

Well anyway, it's lovely talking to you, but I must get on...

Right... well... I guess I'd better get back.