staccato question

"The interview is more of a guided conversation than a staccato question and answer session"

In general, what does "staccato question" mean?

thank you

The word "staccato" refers to the style of the session rather than the questions.
A guided conversation would meander through many topics.
A staccato question and answer session would go :
Question on topic 1 Answer
Question on topic 2 Answer
Question on topic 3 Answer
with little flow between the topics.

Think of the meaning of staccato in music. Short and sharp.

Staccato is one of many musical terms we've borrowed from Italian, Argos. It suggests quick/short/sharp/sudden. So a 'staccato Q&A session' would go like this:
Q
A
Q
A
Q
A [thirty seconds have passed since the first Q]

Whereas a 'guided conversation' would go:
Q
A
A
A
A
A
[thirty minutes have passed since the Q] maybe another Q

(I hope this helps: it makes sense to me👁 Big Grin :D
)

thank you guys!

ewie said:

Staccato is one of many musical terms we've borrowed from Italian, Argos. It suggests quick/short/sharp/sudden. So a 'staccato Q&A session' would go like this:

Perhaps this is unnecessary, but when we use words from other languages, I like to be aware of changes in meaning.

staccato=separate

Playing in a "staccato" manner, meaning making the notes "disconnected", produces a unique effect. The result is that notes sound exactly as you described them above: quick/short/sharp/sudden.

However, in music there can be five minutes between each staccato note. When staccato is used figuratively, at least in English, it always refers to a series of events; the events follow each other rapidly and should always refer to sound, so:

the staccato sound of a machine gun

the staccato sound of a woodpecker in the woods

the staccato sound of tapping fingers

the staccato sound of the question and answer session

(the questions and answers were "short" and "quick".)

Gaer