Public Speaking Chapter 12 PDF

# Using Language ## Meanings of Words - Words have two kinds of meanings––denotative and connotative. - **Denotative meaning** is precise, literal, and objective. - It describes the object, person, place, idea, or event to which the word refers. - **Connotative meaning** is more variable, figurati...

# Using Language ## Meanings of Words - Words have two kinds of meanings––denotative and connotative. - **Denotative meaning** is precise, literal, and objective. - It describes the object, person, place, idea, or event to which the word refers. - **Connotative meaning** is more variable, figurative, and subjective. - It is what the word suggests or implies. ## Using Language Accurately - Using language accurately is as vital to a speaker as using numbers accurately is to an accountant. - Good speakers are aware of the meaning of words––both their obvious and their subtle meanings. ## Using language Clearly - People are different, and what is clear to one person may be unclear to another. - Listeners, unlike readers, cannot turn to a dictionary or reread an author's words to discover their meaning. - To ensure clarity, use familiar words, choose concrete words over abstract words, and eliminate verbal clutter. ### Use Familiar Words - One of the biggest barriers to clear speech is using big, bloated words where short, sharp ones will do the job better. ### Choose Concrete Words - Concrete words refer to tangible objects––people, places, and things. - They differ from abstract words, which refer to general concepts, qualities, or attributes. - The more specific a word, the more concrete it is. ### Eliminate Clutter - Cluttered speech has become a national epidemic. - Avoid using several words where one or two will do. - Be aware of redundant adjectives and adverbs. ## Using Language Vividly - Just as you can be accurate without being clear, so you can be both accurate and clear without being interesting. - To make speeches more vivid, use imagery and rhythm. ### Imagery - Imagery is the use of vivid language to create mental images of objects, actions, or ideas. - Three ways to generate imagery are by using concrete words, simile, and metaphor. ### Simile - A simile is an explicit comparison between two things that are essentially different yet have something in common. - It always contains the word "like" or "as". ### Metaphor - Metaphor is an implicit comparison between two things that are essentially different yet have something in common. - It does not contain the word "like" or "as". ### Rhythm - Language has a rhythm created by the choice and arrangement of words. - Speakers, like poets, sometimes seek to exploit the rhythm of language to enhance the impact of their words. ### Parallelism - Parallelism is the similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences. ## Using Language Appropriately - Language should be appropriate to the occasion, to the audience, to the topic, and to the speaker. ### Appropriateness to the Occasion - Language that is appropriate for some occasions may not be appropriate for others. ### Appropriateness to the Audience - Appropriateness also depends on the audience. ### Appropriateness to the Topic - Language should also be appropriate to the topic. - ### Appropriateness to the Speaker - No matter what the occasion, audience, or topic, language should also be appropriate to the speaker. - Every public speaker develops his or her own language style. ## A Note on Inclusive Language - As the United States has become more diverse, our language has evolved to reflect that diversity. - Audiences expect public speakers to use inclusive language that is respectful of the different groups that make up American society. - To avoid stereotypes based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other factors, consider the following suggestions: - Avoid the Generic "He" - Avoid the Use of "Man" When Referring to Both Men and Women - Avoid Stereotyping Jobs and Social Roles by Gender - Use Names That Groups Use to Identify Themselves ## Summary - Good speakers have respect for language and how it works. - Words have two kinds of meanings––denotative and connotative. - Using language accurately is vital to a speaker. - Using language appropriately depends on the occasion, the audience, the topic, and the speaker. - Using inclusive language is a matter of personal courtesy. ## Exercises for Critical Thinking 1. Arrange each of the following sequences in order, from the most abstract word to the most concrete word. - a. housing complex, building, dining room, structure, apartment - b. Mona Lisa, art, painting, creative activity, portrait - c. automobile, vehicle, Ferrari, transportation, sports car 2. Rewrite each of the following sentences using clear, familiar words. - a. My employment objective is to attain a position of maximum financial reward. - b. All professors at this school are expected to achieve high standards of excellence in their instructional duties. - c. In the eventuality of a fire, it is imperative that all persons evacuate the building without undue delay. 3. Each of the following statements uses one or more of these stylistic devices: metaphor, simile, parallelism, repetition, alliteration, antithesis. Identify the device(s) used in each statement. - a. "We are a people in a quandary about the present. We are a people in search of our future. We are a people in search of a national community." (Barbara Jordan) - b. "The vice presidency is the sand trap of American politics. It's near the prize, and designed to be limiting." (Howard Fineman) - c. "I want you to make history, not be history. I want your work to be remembered, not be forgotten. I want you to power and steer the academic current, not be engulfed by it." (Ibram X. Kendi) - d. "I speak so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights: Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity." (Malala Yousafzai) ## Key Terms - denotative meaning - connotative meaning - thesaurus - concrete words - abstract words - clutter - imagery - simile - cliché - metaphor - rhythm - parallelism - repetition - alliteration - antithesis - inclusive language ## Review Questions 1. How does language help create our sense of reality? 2. What is the difference between denotative and connotative meaning? How might you use each to convey your message most effectively? 3. What are four criteria for using language effectively in your speeches? 4. What are three things you should do to use language clearly in your speeches? 5. What are two ways to bring your speeches to life with vivid, animated language? 6. What does it mean to say you should use language appropriately in your speeches? 7. Why is it important for a public speaker to use inclusive language? What four usages of inclusive language have become so widely accepted that no speaker can afford to ignore them?