- Restating someone else's argument or position in your own words shows that you are listening.
- Translating it into your own words requires a basic understanding of what they said.
- Attempting to translate it into your own words can identify meaninglessness.
- Hearing their own position translated helps them understand their own position.
- It slows things down and reduces tension in a conversation.
- Your translation of their argument or position can strip it of its needless rhetorical flourish.
- Restating someone else's position can remove the need to refute it.
- It earns you credibility from which you can state your own position.
- It can help you identify common ground upon which to build.
- It dignifies and honors their words as meaningful.
- It dignifies the very act of communication.
- It combats cynicism that all such communication can be reduced to sophistry or stimulus or grandstanding.
- It honors another as a thinking soul.
- It fulfills neighbor love.
- It provides an opportunity to overlook or redirect poor communication.
- It may provide another with a better way to restate their own position elsewhere.
See also: aaronshaf.wordpress.com/2014/...