Approach to interrupting in the UK versus Spain

Communicating really involves much more than being able to speak a language. I have come to learn that conversations do not flow in England the way that they do in Spain.

To an English person it must be very surprising that in Spain we constantly interrupt each other in conversation. We regularly try to finish each other's sentences, to show that we are on the same wavelength. When we interrupt in the way that is expected in conversation, this is done smoothly, using unconscious cues that allow both the speaker and the listener to know whose turn it is to speak. Of course, Spaniards also have the ability to be rude and interrupt the speaker showing disregard for what they are saying, but that is a different matter.

In England, it is expected that the speaker will have an uninterrupted chance to say what they have to say. Meanwhile, the listener patiently listens and waits for the speaker to finish before taking their own turn to speak. Thus, interrupting a speaker does not tell the speaker that you understand what they are saying. Rather, it tells them that you are not interested in what they have to say. Interrupting is rude.

Now imagine an English person and a Spanish person holding a conversation.