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May 27, 2024 · Colloquialisms can include slang terms, idiomatic expressions, regional dialects, and vernacular speech. They are often used to convey a sense of intimacy, authenticity, and cultural identity. However, because colloquialisms deviate from formal language norms, they may not be suitable for all situations, such as formal writing or professional ...
- Beware of The Curse of Knowledge
- Avoid Big Words
- Avoid Bafflegab
- Avoid Jargon
- Avoid Slang
- Avoid Cliches
- Avoid Cusswords
- Avoid The Ists
- Avoid Powerless Language
When I was in graduate school I suffered from the curse of knowledge. Actor and communication expert, Alan Alda in his book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on my Facesays, The problem is people are “unable to ignore the additional information they possess,” according to economists Camerer, Loewenstein, and Weber. These researchers ques...
Why use a three-dollar word when a two-dollar word will do? Words like facetious, discombobulation, obfuscate, and cacophony make you sound smart, but they won’t make you understood. There is a time and place for your ‘big” vocabulary, but it is rarely in your speech. As with all things, context is key. If you are a graduate student or faculty memb...
According to Milton Smith, originator of the term bafflegab said, In short, it is using fancy words used to sound smart or to deliberately confuse your audience. William Lutz called it this inflated language. Most of the time, your audience is confused and not impressed. My dad used to tell me not to confuse my audience or I would be “up the prover...
Jargon is the specialized language of a group or profession. If you are part of the group and speaking to an audience made up of people from that group, then you should use jargon, in fact, it would be hard for you not to. If, however, there are outsiders in the audience, you should be sure to define unknown terms or exclude them altogether. Just f...
Slang is the informal language of a particular group. Because it is seen as “informal,” it should be avoided in formal speeches like career speeches, academic speeches, and professional speeches. In less formal speeches, slang can be useful. If you are an insider to the group, slang can build credibility. Studies found that it created a more suppor...
Clichés are overused expressions that have lost their meaning over time. Cliches can make you seem too lazy to come up with concrete words and some people find them annoying. If you are writing a formal essay, all experts say to avoid cliches. If you are making a formal academic presentation, avoid cliches. In speeches, sometimes they work, but oth...
To cuss or not to cuss, that is the question? If you would have asked me that question, ten years ago, I would have advised you that under no circumstances should you ever swear in a speech. I have to be honest here, however, some of my favorite speeches use swear words. Dr. Randy Pausch says curse words in the Last Lecture and Dr. Jerry Harvey’s l...
Ists do not belong in your speech. Avoid racist, sexist, agist, heterosexist, ableist language. And while you are at it, make sure you know the preferred name for people groups. The “right” word to use changes over time and changes based on context. When I started to write this chapter, I thought I would make a list of what words to say and what wo...
Powerless language consists of words or phrases that weaken the language and undermine credibility. Powerless language results in the speaker being seen as less persuasive, less attractive, and less credible. It is true that in social settings, you should be willing to use powerless language for the sake of cooperation, but in speeches, you should ...
Aug 22, 2023 · Consider your audience when deciding whether to incorporate slang into your speech. If you’re speaking to young people or a specific community where the use of slang is common, it can help establish rapport and make them feel understood.
- Profanity. It seems obvious, but this fact bears repeating—you should refrain from using profanity in your speeches. One of the primary rules of all aspects of public speaking (audience analysis, delivery, topic selection, etc.)
- Exaggeration. Speakers should also be careful about exaggeration. Hyperbole is the use of moderate exaggeration for effect and is an acceptable and useful language strategy.
- Powerless Language. Finally, think about using powerful language when speaking. Because women are more likely than men to be socialized to take the feelings of others into account, women tend to use less powerful language than men.
- Incorrect Grammar. While the use of sexist or heterosexist language may imply some negative qualities about you to your audience, the use of incorrect grammar in your speech will explicitly communicate negative attributes about you quite clearly.
Oct 30, 2018 · One powerful tool that we have is the ability to work slang terms into a speech. By doing so we will make our speech more colorful and we’ll have a better chance of engaging our audience. The next time that you create a speech, carefully pick what slang terms you want to add to your speech.
What do you notice about the previous paragraph? You might notice that the language sounds informal, or casual, like someone might talk with a friend or family member. The paragraph also uses a lot of slang. Slang is a type of language that is informal and playful. It often changes over time.
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Jan 28, 2024 · Whether you’re talking to a teacher, a police officer, a fast-food restaurant employee or a stranger, formal speech should always be used. One concern regarding formal speech has to do with its opposition: casual speech.
