“I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” - Richard Nixon Chapter 13 Effective Language

What does this mean? I was on my way to the doctor with rear end problems when my universal joint gave way, causing me to have an accident.

Think of another analogy. Being an effective communicator is like walking a tightrope. To be successful, you must work very hard at being exact and precise.

What are advantages of the written word?  You have time to consider what it means  Punctuation clarifies  But 90% of communication is not written

The average person has a vocabulary of approximately how many words?

Average Vocabulary  10,000 words  If you want to be effective, choose the right ones.  Be accurate!

Concrete vs. Abstract words  Abstract –Feelings –Qualities –Concepts  Examples –Freedom –Responsibility

Concrete vs. Abstract words  Concrete –See –Hear –Touch –Smell

Denotation and Connotation  Denotation –Meaning of the word in dictionary  Connotation –Meaning associated with the word MEANING DEFINITION

What are associations with …  Mother  Success

Choose the Right Word  Have “economy of language”  What does that mean to you? WORDS

Rewrite these statements  At the beginning of the day, before I have my breakfast, I always work to keep my blood circulating and my body fit.

Rewrite these statements  Because of the way you look and because we have had so much fun together, you and I might not find it a bad thing to talk and do stuff together.

Imagery  Language that creates pictures

Metaphor  Figure of speech  Compares two usually unrelated things –The Constitution is the bond which ties our country together. Constitution

Simile  Uses the words “like” or “as” –Every day, our government spends money like McDonalds sells hamburgers. Billions of Burgers and Dollars

Allusion  Reference to a well-known person, place or thing –He is a Picasso. –He’s no Michael Jordan. –She’s his Juliet.

Contrast Imagery  Antithesis –Contrast of one term to another Young or old, hot or cold, knowledgeable or ignorant  Oxymoron –Places opposition directly side-by-side She is momentarily the love of my life.

Contrast Imagery  Irony –Things that imply the opposite of what they seem to say on the surface Reporting on a lawsuit against the Motley Crue by someone who attended a 1992 concert, for damage to his hearing, the reporter said, ‘Yes, you certainly wouldn’t go to a rock concert expecting to hear loud music, now would you?”

Exaggeration Imagery  Hyperbole –Exaggeration of the truth –“I am so hungry I could eat a horse.”  Understatement –Opposite of hyperbole –“Michael Jordan is a fairly decent basketball player.”

Exaggeration Imagery  Personification –Giving human characteristics to non- human things The eyes of profit are deceiving. Don’t allow dishonesty to sneak up on you.

Music with Words– Sound Devices  Repeating individual sounds –Alliteration: repeat initial sounds A corporation must care about the consumer. –Assonance: repeat vowel sounds We believe that peace means a chance for all the oppressed people of the world. (long e sound)

Music with Words – Sound Devices  Repeating individual sounds –Consonance: repeat consonants  Repeating Words or Groups of Words –Do not ask what our country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. –Treat your car with care and your car will take care of you. “CCCCCCCCC”

Repeating Word Groups  Parallelism –Using the same grammatical form to express ideas that should be treated equally  Gettysburg Address –“We cannot dedicate–we cannot consecrate–we cannot hallow this ground.” –This is a driving cadence

Language to Avoid  Jargon –Used in a line of work  Slang –Associated with groups  Euphemism –Words we substitute for harsh or distasteful words  Sexist, shocking or obscene language

Recalling the Facts  What is like walking a tightrope?  What are the advantages of the written word?  Along with accuracy of language what helps create a positive speaking impression?  What is the difference between concrete and abstract words?  What is the difference between the connotation and the denotation of a word?  What are the three types of imagery?  What, in addition to imagery, is important for effective speaking?  Name the types of repetition in language.  What types of language should be avoided? Look Back on Page 366 of textbook

Vocabulary  concrete word  abstract word  denotation  connotation  metaphor  imagery  simile  allusion  antithesis  oxymoron  irony  understatement  hyperbole  euphemism  alliteration  assonance  consonance  parallelism  jargon  slang List on Page 339 of textbook