1. Speech: Exploring Communication
Chapter 8
Choosing Effective Language

2. What Are Words?
They are the garments with which speakers cloth their ideas.
They are courageous or timid, commanding or pleading, persuasive, or entertaining, hurtful or kind

3. What Are Speeches Made Of?
Ideas, but unless those ideas are expressed in carefully selected language, they may be overlooked.

4. “The main reason for not writing out a speech and reading (or memorizing) it is that your focus then would be on your working rather than your audiences reactions. One unique advantage of oral communication is that you have direct eye contact with your audience and can watch, interpret, and adapt to its reaction” (O’Conner ).

5. “A second reason for not writing out your speech is that oral style is quite different form written style. In fact, Charles Fox, noted British politician and orator of the nineteenth century, once said, ‘Does it read well? Then it’s not a good speech’” (O’Conner 214).

6. What Is The Difference Between Written and Spoken Language?
Listener must keep up with speaker
Quest. #5 Spoken language must be immediately clear to the listener.
Quest. #7 Three differences between Spoken and Written Language:
Written is permanent / Spoken short-lived
Spoken is spontaneous / Written planned
Written can be edited / Spoken unchanged

7. 6. Spoken Language Possesses Five Specific Qualities.
Makes greater use of short and simple words
Tends to be more concrete, less abstract
Usually specific
Makes greater use of restatement
Generally includes fewer unnecessary words.

8. 1. Makes greater use of short and simple words
Simple words are not always short words
They are among the ordinary vocabulary of the audience
Read last paragraph on page 216 in SEC

9. 2. (10) Use Concrete Words
Def.: words or phrases that let the listener “see” the idea as well as understand it.
Refrain from abstract language.
Def.: ideas that you cannot see, touch, hear, smell or taste

10. Abstract
Concrete
The girl was beautiful
John seemed nervous, yet determined.
The girl…
John was shaking, but his jaw was tightly set.

11. 3. Use Specific Words (11)
Def.: words that refer to a limited class of objects.
For example, the word hobo is more specific than traveler.
The class of traveler is larger than the class of hobo.

12. Specific Words: Get Specific!
Avoid general terms, use specifics
The trick is to pick the most specific words to tell the audience what is exactly on your mind.
General
Galaxies
Solar Systems
Planets
Mars
Specific

13. 4. Restate Main Ideas
(Quest. 12): Def.: saying something again in a different way; stating an idea again using different words.
(Quest. 13): Public speakers restate their main ideas several times, using different terms throughout the speech to make sure everyone understands.
Read example on page 219 in SEC.

14. 5. Remove Unnecessary Words
Use as many words as necessary to get the message across.
Once accomplished – STOP!
Economy of Language – The use of as few words as necessary to : state ideas clearly (Quest. 14)
See example on page 220 in SEC.

15. Creating Levels of Emphasis
Language makes a speech memorable
How do we create emphasis in a speech to highlight certain parts and downplay other parts?
Contrast
Rhetorical questions
Repetition
Climax
(Quest. 15)

16. 1. Contrast Makes important statements stick in listener’s minds
See example on page 222 in SEC
Def. two balanced phrases or sentences. The words containing the ideas the speaker wishes to emphasize are the only words changed or rearranged in the second part of the statement (Q. 16).

17. 2. Rhetorical Questions
Def.: questions that are not meant to be answered out loud.
See example on page 223 in SEC
Demand an answer in the mind of each listener (Q. 17)
Highlight important points
Persuade
Create emotional reaction (Q. 17)
Listener recall

18. 3. Repetition
Restatement – stating the same idea several times using different words
(Q. 18) Repetition – stating the same idea several times using the same words
Useful in clearly establishing your point.
Parallelism – the beginning or ending of several nearby sentences with the same single word or short phrase. See example on page 224 in SEC.

19. 4. Climax
When a speaker lists three or four items in a series, the item spoken last carries the greatest emphasis.
(Q. 19) Climax ordering – moving from less significant to more significant, and ending with the most important item.

20. Use Figures of Speech (Q. 20)
Similes and metaphors
Personification
Hyperbole
Understatement
Irony
IDIOMS
EUPHEMISM - Political Correctness.

21. 1. Similes and Metaphors
Simile: comparison of two unlike things, using like or as.
Metaphor: a comparison between two unalike things; it describes one thing as if it were something else.

22. 2. Personification
Giving human characteristics to inanimate objects, ideas, or non-human creatures.

23. 3. Hyperbole
Most commonly used figure of speech in everyday conversation.

24. 4. Understatement Downplaying an Idea Opposite of hyperbole
Highlights something by playing down its importance or making what is significant sound insignificant.
Example: A millionaire is asked about the extent of his/her wealth. He/she might reply, “Let’s just say I’m not worried about where my next meal is coming from.”

25. 5. Irony
Figure of speech in which the literal meaning expressed by the person's words is the opposite of the meaning intended.

26. Avoid Common Problems (Q. 21)
Avoid unintentional connotations
Use euphemisms carefully
Avoid clichés
Don’t stereotype
Use slang sparingly
Shun incorrect grammar

27. Avoid Unintentional Connotations
Denotation – literal dictionary definition
Connotation – implied meanings of a word; special meanings for different people or groups
Be aware of connotations
Avoid strong negative connotations; will insult audience.

28. 2. Use Euphemisms Carefully
Gentle or softened expressions for harsh or unpleasant realities.
Don’t overuse to where your message becomes clouded with “soft” terms.

29. 3. Avoid Clichés
Once, a long time ago, expressed a truth or idea clearly and briefly, but are over used and meaningless.
Examples: “Where there’s smoke there’s fire,” “Green With envy,” “Pretty as a picture”
Don’t use, they are BORING, you can lose RESPECT, and they are unoriginal.

30. 4. Don’t Stereotype
Assigning qualities to people or objects because they are part of a general group, without considering their individual differences.
Based on:
Employment, nationality, religion, race, age, gender, etc.
ALWAYS AVOID, there is never a right time to stereotype

31. 5. Use Slang Sparingly
Contemporary words or phrases that come in and go out of style rapidly.
Shows a limited vocabulary.

32. 6. Shun Incorrect Grammar
See page in SEC