On my first visit, I really was expecting Trappist silence and had prepared myself for that; so I was taken aback and disoriented when she was quite chatty.
We can actually speak with her, she'd just rather, on the whole, you didn't - especially any kind of small-talk, blathering or chat. I don't know for certain, but I imagine she also doesn't like constant feedback or instruction-giving. Hence I expect it was altogether much easier and less open to misinterpretation for her just to say 'don't talk'. So the sensible thing is - if you do need to say something, ok - do; otherwise, don't, unless spoken to.
