1. Chapter 15: Using Language

2. Describe an object  Look around the room and select an object  Don’t tell anyone what your object is  Write a paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing this object  Be prepared to read aloud as we will try to guess your object!  Look around the room and select an object  Don’t tell anyone what your object is  Write a paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing this object  Be prepared to read aloud as we will try to guess your object!

3. Prepare your speeches for the ear  Successful speakers write for the ear to make their message clear to the audience.  Thus, this takes time and practice.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68KgoHWupg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68KgoHWupg  Successful speakers write for the ear to make their message clear to the audience.  Thus, this takes time and practice.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68KgoHWupg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68KgoHWupg

4. Use an Oral Style  Strive for simplicity.  Use simpler terms and fewer words.  Translate jargon into simple language.  Make frequent use of repetition.  Adds emphasis to important ideas  Imbues language with rhythm and drama  Strive for simplicity.  Use simpler terms and fewer words.  Translate jargon into simple language.  Make frequent use of repetition.  Adds emphasis to important ideas  Imbues language with rhythm and drama

5. Use an Oral Style (cont.)  Use personal pronouns.  Draws listeners into the message.  Examples:  I  We  You  Use personal pronouns.  Draws listeners into the message.  Examples:  I  We  You

6. Choose Concrete Language and Vivid Imagery  Use concrete language.  Specific, tangible, and definite words  Abstract language is nonspecific.  Offer vivid imagery.  Brings the senses into play  Try modifying nouns with descriptive adjectives.

7. Choose Concrete Language and Vivid Imagery (cont.)  Use figures of speech.  Simile  Comparison using like or as  Metaphor  Comparison describing one thing as being another

8. Choose Concrete Language and Vivid Imagery (cont.)  Use figures of speech (cont.).  Analogy  Extended metaphor or simile  Compares the unfamiliar with the familiar  Helps explain key ideas or processes  Avoid faulty analogies (misleading/inaccurate comparisons).

9. Choose Words That Build Credibility  Use words appropriately.  Match formality to the occasion.  Use code-switching selectively.  Refers to sensitive use of dialect  Creates image of friendliness, nostalgia, honesty  Helps ensure your meaning is clear  Use words appropriately.  Match formality to the occasion.  Use code-switching selectively.  Refers to sensitive use of dialect  Creates image of friendliness, nostalgia, honesty  Helps ensure your meaning is clear

10. Choose Words That Build Credibility (cont.)  Use words accurately.  Misuse causes audiences to lose confidence.  Beware malapropisms.  Words/phrases used inadvertently and incorrectly  Used in place of similar-sounding words/phrases  Use words accurately.  Misuse causes audiences to lose confidence.  Beware malapropisms.  Words/phrases used inadvertently and incorrectly  Used in place of similar-sounding words/phrases

11. Choose Words That Build Credibility (cont.)  Use the active voice.  Makes your statements clear and assertive  Active verb  Subject performs the action.  Passive verb  Subject is acted upon.  Use the active voice.  Makes your statements clear and assertive  Active verb  Subject performs the action.  Passive verb  Subject is acted upon.

12. Choose Words That Build Credibility (cont.)  Use culturally sensitive and gender-neutral language.  Language should respect audience members’  Cultural beliefs;  Norms;  Traditions.  Use culturally sensitive and gender-neutral language.  Language should respect audience members’  Cultural beliefs;  Norms;  Traditions.

13. Choose Words That Build Credibility (cont.)  Eliminate language that reflects  Unfounded assumptions;  Negative descriptions;  Stereotypes.  Explain terms foreign to some listeners  Especially colloquial expressions and idioms.  Eliminate language that reflects  Unfounded assumptions;  Negative descriptions;  Stereotypes.  Explain terms foreign to some listeners  Especially colloquial expressions and idioms.

14. Choose Words That Build Credibility (cont.)  Use gender-neutral language whenever possible.  Avoid third-person masculine pronouns.  His, he  Use inclusive pronouns instead.  His or her; we, our, your  Avoid “man” or “mankind.”  Person, human being, humankind  Use gender-neutral language whenever possible.  Avoid third-person masculine pronouns.  His, he  Use inclusive pronouns instead.  His or her; we, our, your  Avoid “man” or “mankind.”  Person, human being, humankind

15. Choose Words That Create a Lasting Impression  Use repetition to create rhythm.  Implants important ideas in listeners’ heads  Works well with appropriate voice inflections  Use repetition to create rhythm.  Implants important ideas in listeners’ heads  Works well with appropriate voice inflections

16. Choose Words That Create a Lasting Impression  Anaphora  Repeating words/phrases at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences  Epiphora  Repeating words or phrases at the end of successive statements  Anaphora  Repeating words/phrases at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences  Epiphora  Repeating words or phrases at the end of successive statements

17. Choose Words That Create a Lasting Impression (cont.)  Use alliteration for a poetic, musical rhythm.  Repeating sounds in neighboring words/syllables  Use alliteration for a poetic, musical rhythm.  Repeating sounds in neighboring words/syllables

18. Choose Words That Create a Lasting Impression (cont.)  Experiment with parallelism.  Arranging words in a similar form  Can help emphasize important ideas  Can be simple (simply numbering points)  Creates a steady, building rhythm  Triads (three parallel elements) are popular.  Experiment with parallelism.  Arranging words in a similar form  Can help emphasize important ideas  Can be simple (simply numbering points)  Creates a steady, building rhythm  Triads (three parallel elements) are popular.

19. Summary Questions  How can you ensure that your language is culturally sensitive and unbiased?  Why is it important that speech language be simple and concise?  What is concrete language?  How can you create vivid imagery in your speeches?  How can you use language to build credibility?  How can you use language to create a lasting impression?  How can you ensure that your language is culturally sensitive and unbiased?  Why is it important that speech language be simple and concise?  What is concrete language?  How can you create vivid imagery in your speeches?  How can you use language to build credibility?  How can you use language to create a lasting impression?