Introduction to Public Speaking Chapters 11 and 12

Why is Language Important? l “The English language is the accretion and growth of every dialect, race and range of time” – Walt Whitman l What are examples of words whose meanings have changed over time?

Meanings of Words l Denotative meaning – the literal or dictionary meaning of a word or phrase l Connotative Meaning – the meaning suggested by the associations or emotions triggered by a word or phrase l Pro-life and Pro-choice vs. anti-abortion and pro-abortion

Using Language Accurately l Make sure that the word you say has the meaning you want it to have l Persecution vs. Prosecution l Examples of times that you have used words improperly?

Use Language Clearly l Be sure that your words are clear to the people who are hearing them. l Remember, people can’t go back and look at your words once they are spoken (as you can with a book) l If unsure, use a dictionary!

Use Familiar Words l“In the eventuality of a fire, it is imperative that all persons evacuate the building without undue delay”

Concrete vs. Abstract Words l Concrete Words – Words that refer to tangible objects l Carrot, Pencil, Door l Abstract Words – Words that refer to ideas or concepts l Humility, progress, philosophy

Clutter l. Clutter – Discourse that takes many more words than are necessary to express an idea

Imagine thought of burning up a priceless painting by Rembrandt just in order to stay warm for ten minutes. Sounds really crazy, doesn’t it? But that is comparable to just what is happening right now in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil. The president of Brazil authorized a 14, 000 -mile network of highways to open up the vast area of the rain forest to settlement. Unfortunately, the project has been nothing but a disaster from the very beginning. Working in the hot, torrid, steamy jungle caused many fatal deaths among the workers. Soon a whole lot of foreign businesses began to get themselves involved in the project. Now the whole thing is utterly out of hand. Today there is a very real danger that the whole ecological balance of the rain forest will be irrevocably destroyed completely and altogether. This will have important and serious future implications in terms of what it means not only for Brazil, but for all of the rest of South America.

Use Language Vividly l Imagery – The use of vivid language to create mental images of objects, actions, or ideas

Use Language Vividly

Use Language Vividly l Simile – an explicit comparison, introduced with the word, “like” or “as, ” between things that are essentially different yet have something in common. l Metaphor – An implicit comparison, not introduced with “like” or “as, ” between two things that are essentially different yet have something in common.

Rhythm l The pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice and arrangement of words l “Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold. Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old. ” l “If you think you’re beaten you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win, but think you can’t, it’s almost a cinch you won’t”

Rhythm

Parallelism l The similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences l “Rich and poor, intelligent and ignorant, wise and foolish, virtuous and vicious, mand woman – it is ever the same, each sould must depend wholly on itself. ” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Repetition l Reiteration of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences. l “When you see your street, see my street. When you see your house, see my house. When you see your children, see my children. ” – Whitney Young Jr.

Alliteration l Repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words. l “Peace is essential for progress, but progress is no less essential for peace. ” – Liaquat Al Khan

Antithesis l The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structure l “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. ” – John F. Kennedy

Methods of Delivery l Manuscript Speech – A speech that is written out word for word and read to the audience l May seem easier, but can be much more difficult l Reciting l Today, from Memory only used for short speeches (toasts, acceptance speeches, etc)

Methods of Delivery

Methods of Delivery l Impromptu Speeches – A speech delivered with little or no immediate preparation State the points you are going to talk about l Support your points with appropriate statistics, examples or testimony l Summarize your points l Sketch a quick outline l Gather your thoughts before speaking l Keep audience on track by signposting: “My first point is…; Second, we can see that…; In conclusion…. ” l

Methods of Delivery l Extemporaneous speech – A carefully prepared and rehearsed speech that is presented from a brief set of notes l What you’ve been doing all semester!

Extemporaneous Speech

The Speakers Voice Volume l Pitch l Inflection – affects meanings of words (Oooh) l Monotone l l Rate l l Tendency to talk fast…practice slow! Pauses l “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. ” – Mark Twain

The Speakers Voice l Vocal Variety – Changes in the speaker’s rate, pitch, and volume that give the voice variety and expressiveness

The Speakers Voice l Pronunciation – The accepted standard of sound and rhythm for words in a given language l l Articulation – the physical production of particular speech sounds l l l Genuine, arctic, nuclear, February Ought to = otta Have to = hafta Want to = wanna About to = Fixin’ to Dialect – A variety of a language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary

The Speakers Body l Personal Appearance l Movement l Before and After a speech l Gestures l What l Eye do you do with your hands? ? ? Contact l The Eye Contact Challenge l Remember Cultural Differences

The Speakers Body

Speaking Assignments l 17 th – Jason, Natasha, Ryan, Chet, Kevin l 22 nd – Ben, Joe, Jen, Bhavin, Tenecia, Sarah, Justin, Katie, Courtney, Erin l 24 th – Farah, Scott, Julien, Nila, Shanna, l 29 th – Veda, Kim, Megen, Danielle, Kyle and Impromptu Speeches Begin l Questions about persuasive speeches? ? ?