Introduction to Public Introduction to Public SpeakingSpeaking

Chapters 11 and 12Chapters 11 and 12

Why is Language Important?Why is Language Important?

““The English language is the The English language is the accretion and growth of every accretion and growth of every dialect, race and range of time” – dialect, race and range of time” – Walt WhitmanWalt WhitmanWhat are examples of words whose What are examples of words whose

meanings have changed over time?meanings have changed over time?

Meanings of WordsMeanings of Words

Denotative meaning – the literal or Denotative meaning – the literal or dictionary meaning of a word or dictionary meaning of a word or phrasephrase

Connotative Meaning – the meaning Connotative Meaning – the meaning suggested by the associations or suggested by the associations or emotions triggered by a word or emotions triggered by a word or phrasephrasePro-life and Pro-choice vs. anti-abortion Pro-life and Pro-choice vs. anti-abortion

and pro-abortionand pro-abortion

Using Language AccuratelyUsing Language Accurately

Make sure that the word you say has Make sure that the word you say has the meaning you want it to havethe meaning you want it to havePersecution vs. ProsecutionPersecution vs. ProsecutionExamples of times that you have used Examples of times that you have used

words improperly?words improperly?

Use Language ClearlyUse Language Clearly

Be sure that your words are clear to Be sure that your words are clear to the people who are hearing them.the people who are hearing them.Remember, people can’t go back and Remember, people can’t go back and

look at your words once they are spoken look at your words once they are spoken (as you can with a book)(as you can with a book)

If unsure, use a dictionary!If unsure, use a dictionary!

Use Familiar WordsUse Familiar Words

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

Concrete vs. Abstract WordsConcrete vs. Abstract Words

Concrete Words – Words that refer to Concrete Words – Words that refer to tangible objectstangible objectsCarrot, Pencil, DoorCarrot, Pencil, Door

Abstract Words – Words that refer to Abstract Words – Words that refer to ideas or conceptsideas or conceptsHumility, progress, philosophyHumility, progress, philosophy

ClutterClutter

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

Imagine the 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.

Imagine the 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 VividlyUse Language Vividly

Imagery – The use of vivid language Imagery – The use of vivid language to create mental images of objects, to create mental images of objects, actions, or ideasactions, or ideas

Use Language VividlyUse Language Vividly

Use Language VividlyUse Language Vividly

Simile – an explicit comparison, Simile – an explicit comparison, introduced with the word, “like” or introduced with the word, “like” or “as,” between things that are “as,” between things that are essentially different yet have essentially different yet have something in common.something in common.

Metaphor – An implicit comparison, not Metaphor – An implicit comparison, not introduced with “like” or “as,” between introduced with “like” or “as,” between two things that are essentially different two things that are essentially different yet have something in common. yet have something in common.

RhythmRhythm

The pattern of sound in a speech The pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice and created by the choice and arrangement of wordsarrangement of words““Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold. Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold.

Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.”Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.”““If you think you’re beaten you are. If you If you think you’re beaten you are. If you

think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win, but think you can’t, it’s almost like to win, but think you can’t, it’s almost a cinch you won’t”a cinch you won’t”

RhythmRhythm

ParallelismParallelism

The similar arrangement of a pair or The similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or series of related words, phrases, or sentencessentences““Rich and poor, intelligent and ignorant, Rich and poor, intelligent and ignorant,

wise and foolish, virtuous and vicious, wise and foolish, virtuous and vicious, mand and woman – it is ever the same, mand and woman – it is ever the same, each sould must depend wholly on each sould must depend wholly on itself.” – Elizabeth Cady Stantonitself.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

RepetitionRepetition

Reiteration of the same word or set Reiteration of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences. successive clauses or sentences. ““When you see your street, see my When you see your street, see my

street. When you see your house, see street. When you see your house, see my house. When you see your children, my house. When you see your children, see my children.” – Whitney Young Jr. see my children.” – Whitney Young Jr.

AlliterationAlliteration

Repetition of the initial consonant Repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words.sound of close or adjoining words.““Peace is essential for progress, but Peace is essential for progress, but

progress is no less essential for peace.” progress is no less essential for peace.” – Liaquat Al Khan– Liaquat Al Khan

AntithesisAntithesis

The juxtaposition of contrasting The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structureideas, usually in parallel structure““Ask not what your country can do for Ask not what your country can do for

you; ask what you can do for your you; ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedycountry.” – John F. Kennedy

Methods of DeliveryMethods of Delivery

Manuscript Speech – A speech that is Manuscript Speech – A speech that is written out word for word and read to written out word for word and read to the audiencethe audienceMay seem easier, but can be much more May seem easier, but can be much more

difficultdifficultReciting from MemoryReciting from Memory

Today, only used for short speeches Today, only used for short speeches (toasts, acceptance speeches, etc)(toasts, acceptance speeches, etc)

Methods of DeliveryMethods of Delivery

Methods of DeliveryMethods of Delivery

Impromptu Speeches – A speech delivered Impromptu Speeches – A speech delivered with little or no immediate preparationwith little or no immediate preparation State the points you are going to talk aboutState the points you are going to talk about Support your points with appropriate statistics, Support your points with appropriate statistics,

examples or testimonyexamples or testimony Summarize your pointsSummarize your points

Sketch a quick outlineSketch a quick outlineGather your thoughts before speakingGather your thoughts before speakingKeep audience on track by signposting: “My first Keep audience on track by signposting: “My first

point is…; Second, we can see that…; In point is…; Second, we can see that…; In conclusion….”conclusion….”

Methods of DeliveryMethods of Delivery

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

Extemporaneous SpeechExtemporaneous Speech

The Speakers VoiceThe Speakers Voice

VolumeVolume PitchPitch

Inflection – affects meanings of words (Oooh)Inflection – affects meanings of words (Oooh) MonotoneMonotone

RateRate Tendency to talk fast…practice slow!Tendency to talk fast…practice slow!

PausesPauses ““The right word may be effective, but no word The right word may be effective, but no word

was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” – Mark Twain– Mark Twain

The Speakers VoiceThe Speakers Voice

Vocal Variety – Vocal Variety – Changes in the Changes in the speaker’s rate, speaker’s rate, pitch, and volume pitch, and volume that give the voice that give the voice variety and variety and expressivenessexpressiveness

The Speakers VoiceThe Speakers Voice Pronunciation – The accepted standard of Pronunciation – The accepted standard of

sound and rhythm for words in a given sound and rhythm for words in a given languagelanguage Genuine, arctic, nuclear, FebruaryGenuine, arctic, nuclear, February

Articulation – the physical production of Articulation – the physical production of particular speech soundsparticular speech sounds Ought to = ottaOught to = otta Have to = haftaHave to = hafta Want to = wannaWant to = wanna About to = Fixin’ toAbout to = Fixin’ to

Dialect – A variety of a language Dialect – A variety of a language distinguished by variations of accent, distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabularygrammar, or vocabulary

The Speakers BodyThe Speakers Body

Personal AppearancePersonal AppearanceMovementMovement

Before and After a speechBefore and After a speechGesturesGestures

What do you do with your hands???What do you do with your hands???Eye ContactEye Contact

The Eye Contact ChallengeThe Eye Contact ChallengeRemember Cultural DifferencesRemember Cultural Differences

The Speakers BodyThe Speakers Body

Speaking AssignmentsSpeaking Assignments

1717thth – Jason, Natasha, Ryan, Chet, Kevin – Jason, Natasha, Ryan, Chet, Kevin2222ndnd – Ben, Joe, Jen, Bhavin, Tenecia, – Ben, Joe, Jen, Bhavin, Tenecia,

Sarah, Justin, Katie, Courtney, ErinSarah, Justin, Katie, Courtney, Erin2424thth – Farah, Scott, Julien, Nila, Shanna, – Farah, Scott, Julien, Nila, Shanna, 2929thth – Veda, Kim, Megen, Danielle, Kyle – Veda, Kim, Megen, Danielle, Kyle

and Impromptu Speeches Beginand Impromptu Speeches BeginQuestions about persuasive speeches???Questions about persuasive speeches???