When my gf is away for business or pleasure, I find that I talk during meals eaten alone. I talk to our dogs, birds, tortoise; which I hope makes it non pathologic.
Dinner is family and friends social event. No tv, the rare exception when there is or was something of Great Importance going on, such as an assassination attempt of the prez or some such. Phone calls went unanswered. If you didn’t have front door priviliges and arrived during dinner, you were politely told to come back later. With the advent of cell phones, if you recieved a call during dinner you took out the phone and either silenced it or left the table to take the call if it was that important. An unexpected Death In The Family rated taking a call during dinner, work or business never.
Heck yeah we talk during dinner. Drives the Vaderling nuts that I even make him sit at the table