banter

"banter" と言う単語は、元同時通訳の村松増美さんが以前日本英語交流連盟のEnglish Clubを主宰していて、７～８年程前にそのClubで村松増美さんから教えてもらったので良く覚えています。先日ラグビーのワールドカップ準決勝のニュージーランドとオーストラリア戦を録画で見ていた時に、村松さんがニュージーランドとオーストラリアは "bantering" できる間柄だと言っていたのを思い出しました。　The Remains of the Dayにこの "bantering" / "banter" が何度も出てきます。　次に引用するのは最初に "bantering" が出てきた個所です。　
Embarrassing as those moments were for me, I would not wish to imply that I in any way blame Mr. Farraday, who is in no sense an unkind person; he was, I am sure, merely enjoying the sort of bantering which in the United State, no doubt, is a sign of a good, friendly understanding between employer and employee, indulged in as a kind of affectionate sport.
執事のStevensは米国人の新しい主人が "bantering" のつもりで言っているのを分かってきたのだが、それに対して、適切な反応ができず戸惑っています。 "banter" の意味は村松さんから何度か聞いているので辞書を引いた事はありませんが、英英辞書でどの様な説明になっているか見てみます。
・V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary: (n.) playful, lighthearted, and usually witty, teasing; (v.) to tease or joke playfully and wittily
Tips: Banter refers to a playful form of teasing that is usually clever rather than cruel and that is usually mutual. If you are bantering back and forth, you are making teasing comments that you are almost "batting" back and forth. Banter has also come to be used to denote light, non-serious conversation.
Examples:
My old high school friends and I like to banter back and forth; it's our way of bonding.
He was known for his quick wit and clever banter.
・Vocabulary.com:
Good friends usually banter back and forth easily, like they're trying to keep a step ahead of each other in witty responses. This type of banter is their special language of friendship.
Banter is both a noun and a verb about talking. It comes from unknown origins, but even as a word, it seems to be playful and teasing. You can engage in banter with friends, siblings, parents, and even good-natured strangers. Banter usually ends with everyone feeling better for the talk and verbal play. Joking, joshing, and teasing are all related to banter
"banter" ができる、またその相手がいる事は楽しいですね。