Chapter 12 Language and Style Language and Style

Chapter 12 Language and Style

Language and Style: Introduction • Word choice (diction) – Requires consideration of audience, occasion, and nature of message – Well-chosen words can make a speech clear and memorable. – Speakers can confuse some listeners through unconsidered word choice.

The Importance of Language and Word Choice • Words convey ethos to listeners. – Using language appropriately can give your credibility a boost. – Choose the right words to clarify your message. – Explain technical terms and use helpful presentation aids.

Differences Between Oral and Written Language • Key differences between oral and written language: – Oral language is more adaptive. – Oral language tends to be less formal. – Oral language incorporates repetition.

Differences Between Oral and Written Language (cont. )

Denotative and Connotative Meaning • Denotative meaning: Exact, literal dictionary definition – When a word has a single, not overly technical definition, you can expect your audience to understand what you mean. – Many words have numerous definitions. • If using a specific word is likely to confuse the audience, choose a different word or phrase.

Denotative and Connotative Meaning (cont. ) • Connotative meaning: Association that comes to mind when people hear or read a word – May bear little or no resemblance to its denotative meaning

Denotative and Connotative Meaning (cont. ) – You can make a powerful impression by using words deliberately for their connotative meanings. – Careless use of a word with very different denotative and connotative meanings can confuse your audience.

Presenting Your Message Clearly • Understandable language – Use language your listeners recognize. – Analyze your audience to determine appropriate word choice. – Avoid technical terms and specialized jargon. • If you can say something in plain language, do so. • If you do use jargon, explain it.

Presenting Your Message Clearly (cont. )

Presenting Your Message Clearly (cont. ) • Concrete words – Concrete words are specific and suggest exactly what you mean. – Abstract words are general and can be confusing and ambiguous. – Use abstract words to give the big picture. – Use a mix of concrete and abstract words as needed.

Presenting Your Message Clearly (cont. )

Presenting Your Message Clearly (cont. ) • Proper use of words – Incorrect word choice can: • Undermine clarity and credibility • Create unintended humorous consequences (such as using “recession” and “depression” interchangeably) – Watch out for words that: • Are commonly misused • Are frequently mispronounced • Sound alike but have different meanings

Presenting Your Message Clearly (cont. )

Presenting Your Message Clearly (cont. ) • Concise language – Use the fewest words necessary to express an idea. – Avoid verbal clutter (extraneous words that make it hard for the audience to follow your message).

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively • Repetition – Benefits: • Repetition can draw listeners’ attention and leave lasting memories. • Repeating words later in the speech can remind the audience of previous points. – Use repetition sparingly. – Rewording potentially confusing passages is a form of repetition.

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. )

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. ) • Hypothetical examples: Imagined examples or scenarios that you invite your audience to think about – Can help your listeners follow a complicated point that you present immediately afterward

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. ) • Personal anecdotes: Brief stories that can be used to help you further build credibility and reassure listeners that you’re not judging them

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. ) • Vivid language – Grabs attention with words and phrases that appeal to all five senses • Stronger imagery creates deeper impressions on an audience. • Select descriptive words that evoke pictures, smells, textures, sounds, and flavors. • Overuse of vivid language may diminish effectiveness.

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. ) • Figurative language – Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences • Used for emphasis, clarity, and a rhetorical sense of style. – Antithesis: Clauses set in opposition to one another, usually to distinguish between choices, concepts, and ideas

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. ) – Similes • Make explicit comparisons with like or as – Metaphors • Make implicit comparisons • Suggest connections between objects that are not alike by identifying one object with the other – Be clear and consistent when using similes and metaphors. • Avoid mixing comparisons.

Expressing Your Ideas Effectively (cont. )

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language • Biased language: Word choice that suggests prejudice or preconceptions about other people – Its use erodes your credibility and distracts your audience from listening to your message. – Avoid language that suggests you’re making judgments about race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, or mental or physical ability.

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language (cont. ) • Avoid stereotypes – Generalizations based on the false assumption that characteristics displayed by some members of a group are shared by all members of that group – Can come into play when making claims beyond the facts that the evidence proves – Take special care to avoid stereotypes when discussing potentially controversial topics.

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language (cont. ) • Use gender-neutral references – Can be challenging at times • Frequent use of “he or she” can get tedious. • Using plurals where appropriate can help. – Select gender-neutral terms where possible. • “Chair” instead of “chairman” • “Congressional representative” instead of “congressman” • “Firefighter” instead of “fireman”

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language (cont. ) • Make appropriate references to ethnic groups – Use the noun preferred by a particular ethnic group when referring to that group. • “African American” instead of “black” – Refer to ethnic groups correctly. • A visitor from Nigeria is not African American. – Use masculine and feminine forms correctly. • Ana Castillo is a Chicana, not a Chicano.

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language (cont. ) • Steer clear of unnecessary references to ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexuality – Do not mention unless it is relevant to a point you are making.

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language (cont. ) • A note on appropriate language and political correctness – Words have tremendous power to influence the ways that people think of, feel about, and treat each other. – Avoid words that could cause harm or pain to others, when possible.

Choosing Respectful and Unbiased Language (cont. ) – Critics argue that guidelines on word choice may restrict rights to freedom of expression by establishing strict rules of “political correctness. ” – Avoid the “PC debate” by supporting your position with credible evidence and logical reasoning.