SERIES 4: HOW TO SAY IT

Objectives:

1. Select right word and sentence structure to communicate ideas clearly & vividly.

2. Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas.

3. Eliminate jargon & unnecessary words. Use proper grammar.

Time: 5-7 minutes.

A clear purpose and effective organization are the foundations of any speech. Words communicate your message and affect how the audience perceives it. Clear, simple and vivid words add excitement to the presentation & stimulate the audience, while grammar and proper pronunciation give you credibility.

Write for the ear:

When you don’t understand a section of a book or magazine article, you can read it again and again until the meaning is clear. When you speak your listeners don’t have this luxury. What you say must be clear to the audience.

Repetition and simple, clear language help listeners remember points. If you want listeners to understand and accept you, be sure to speak the way they speak.

Construct the speech in an oral style, using the following:

Short words: In speaking, the most effective and memorable words are short comprising of a syllable. In fact short words are easier to follow and remember.

Short sentences: These are easier to say, understand and have more power and impact on audiences. Make sure you have included short sentences often in your speech.

Short paragraphs: A paragraph develops one idea or thought. When you limit your paragraphs to a few sentences, the audiences are more readily follow your logic. Pausing between paragraphs also give listeners time to “digest” what you’ve said.

Be specific:

Some words are general and have a number of meanings. You have to use concrete, specific words that communicate exactly what you mean. For example, the word criminal can mean a pickpocket, bank robber or murderer. Words like liberal and conservative may have a different meaning for every person in audience. As you prepare the speech, select words that leave no opportunity for misunderstanding.

Vivid words:

The words in your speech should appeal to the senses, helping the audience to see, hear, feel, taste and smell. Instead of saying, “this proposal will result in more money for our school” say, “this proposal will boost the school’s income by $15,000, enough to buy new textbooks and classroom supplies for the next year”.

Select verbs in your presentation carefully. Use verbs that have energy. Shake, roll and wiggle have more energy than move. Bellow, shout, whisper, screams or whine could replace speak.

Also remember to use active voice. It is advisable to minimize the usage of weak verbs like is, are, were and was.

Incorporate rhetorical devices:

They are the special ways of arranging words to make an idea or thought sound more pleasing and easier for listeners to remember. Some effective devices are:

Simile: it is a comparison that uses the words like or as.

Metaphor: it merely implies the comparison.

Alliteration: here the initial sounds in words or in stressed syllables within the words are repeated in a pleasing or memorable manner: “unnoticed and unused,” “hallowed halls,” “protect and preserve peace.”

Triads: ideas, adjectives and points are grouped in threes. Expressed in threes, thoughts have a pleasant rhythm, are dramatic, and become more memorable.

Use words economically:

Many words are unnecessary and are used as “fillers”. These fillers detract and dilute the message. Therefore a good speaker should strive to say in as few words as possible. For example, phrases such as you know; needless to say; it has been shown that can be eliminated. Some phrases, a large number of can be reduced to many, at the present time to now, in the event of to if, take into consideration reduced to consider etc.

Also take into consideration the usage of redundant words like sum total, joint collaboration, future plans, unexpected surprise and new record. These extra words do not carry any value.

Watch for jargon:(J)

In Toastmaster’s manuals, there is some useful information about the use of jargon words. Some buzz words are considered jargon even though they are not related to particular profession.

Examples:

Conceptualize (J) instead use imagine

Downsizing (J) instead use laying off

Infra structure instead use frame work.

Viable instead use possible

Operational instead use working

Parameters instead use limits

Now we are a step behind before finishing our final speech script i.e.

Say it correctly:

Pronunciation and grammar are major factors in your ability to influence the audience. They see these two factors in a well educated and credible person’s speech.

Common grammar problems:

Subject-verb agreement

Misplaced modifiers and

Misused pronouns

For people with pronunciation problems should practice writing the words phonetically and saying it aloud. If still the problem persists, then they should substitute with alternate word conveying same meaning.

DEAR FRIENDS, MAKE USE OF THIS SERIES IN PREPARING THAT “HOW TO SAY” SPEECH.

ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR PREPARATION