How to conduct a dialogue? This question was raised by my granddaughter (six-year-old Judy). Such question is not difficult to answer for an adult, but for a six-year smart Saudi girl you have to be very careful. I told my granddaughter: "More important than giving information in your dialogue is the framework in which the information is given." I also told her: "Regardless of whether your dialogue is right or wrong, your words need to be meaningful and well-formulated in order to have an affect on others.”
To have the desired effect on the receiver (your relatives or friends), the following guideline was published by King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue:
1. Use Impressive words to begin your conversation to attract the attention of the listener and leave a strong impression on the other.
2. Use proper and meaningful language, with simple and familiar words and avoid those that reflect a shallow culture.
3. Be a good listener and remember it is impolite to interrupt others.
And I told my granddaughter this story which she understood immediately: A young child was playing outside his house when his mother told him: "Do not play on the street corner." The boy looked at his mother for a little while then continued playing. The second time the mother shouted angrily at the boy and said: "I told you not to play on the street corner." The frightened child looked at his mother and nodded his head then continued playing. The mother then went over to her son and scolded him very hard and said: "I told you many times not to play on the street corner." The child burst into tears and said: "Yes mom, but what is a street corner?"
So I told my granddaughter: "Make sure others understand what you mean so as not to misjudge your answer.”
My granddaughter look into my eyes and said:” Yes grandpa, I know the meaning of “street corner”.
n Dr. Mohsin Shaikh Al-Hassan is a Saudi writer.
