1. Communicate with Your Language, Body, and Voice
Chapter Twelve
Communicate with Your Language, Body, and Voice

2. Main Ideas in the Chapter
Use the Power of Your Words
Support Your Message with Your Body
Support Your Message with Your Voice

3. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Be inclusive.
Inclusive language acts as a bridge to an audience, increasing your chances of making a connection.

4. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Noninclusive language relies on negative stereotypes, derogatory remarks, or offensive terms.
Acts as a barrier
Pushes audience away
Makes listeners feel inferior

5. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Barriers to communication
Sexism
Racism
Heterosexism
Religion
Age
Occupation
Physical features

6. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Is slang appropriate?
It depends on:
The occasion
The audience
The speaker
The slang

7. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Avoid obscene language.
Occasionally, obscenities may serve a purpose in specific speaking contexts.
Using big or cultural vocabulary words is acceptable when:
They are used for the right reason
They are defined as needed
They are used with sensitivity to the audience

8. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Accuracy affects how audiences perceive your competence.
If you catch an error, go back and correct it.

9. #1 – Use the Power of Your Words
Be grammatically correct.
Use adjectives and adverbs correctly.
Beware of incorrect word choices.
Avoid improper pronoun placement.
Make sure your words are, in fact, real words.
Pronounce words correctly.
Be personable.

10. #2 – Support Your Message with Your Body
Defining nonverbal communication
Communication without words
Listeners attach meaning to how a speaker moves.

11. #2 – Support Your Message with Your Body
Make eye contact.
Allows you to read your audience for feedback
Can reduce excess speaker’s energy

12. #2 – Support Your Message with Your Body
Use facial expressions
Don’t try to choreograph facial expressions
When appropriate, a smile helps connect with the audience

13. #2 – Support Your Message with Your Body
Be aware of your posture.
Stand if you can.
If using a lectern, stand behind or next to it.
Avoid distracting movements.

14. #2 – Support Your Message with Your Body
Use gestures.
Emblems
Illustrators
Gestures are often influenced by:
Personality
Message

15. #2 – Support Your Message with Your Body
Consider your physical distance—or proxemics.
Determined by the room
Accentuated by physical barriers
Accentuated by elevation
Affected by movement during the presentation

16. #3 – Support Your Message with Your Voice
Emotional tone
Employ a tone of confidence, friendliness, openness, and respect.

17. #3 – Support Your Message with Your Voice
Volume
Consider the speaking space.
Watch the ends of your sentences.
Consider using a microphone.

18. #3 – Support Your Message with Your Voice
Speech flow
The silent pause
Verbal junk
Articulation
Pitch and inflection
Pace