Repeated words

Have you noticed that uncanny way how, in situations where people are gathered in small groups or couples in conversation (cafes, pubs, restaurants etc)  the words or even phrases from one conversation will seem to be replayed by others, as if themes are unwittingly echoing around the room?  I don’t imagine that they can all possibly be listening to, or even clearly hearing  one another, but somehow, they do hear enough for the word or phrase to enter their thoughts and be spoken and integrated as part of their own conversation.

 

 

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