Effective Language

Ch. 13

Your Message What you say is just as important as how you say it. In order to give the desired message, you have to use efficient, accurate language in an effective manner.

Spoken Communication 90% of all communication is spoken!

How do you learn?
The average person has a vocabulary of approximately 10,000 words. Have you ever been in a situation where you could not understand what was being said to you?

Words
The language you use makes a huge impression on everyone you come in contact with.
Its the words you use or dont use. Its how you use them. Its how you say them.

When should your language be accurate?

ALL THE TIME!!
With your friends at the mall. With your family at home. At your work place. At school especially.

Why?

Accurate Accurate also means to use words that are understood and properly perceived by all. Using Slang, Jargon, racial or sexist language are types of language that should be avoided for everyone to understand.

Just Avoid It!

Slang and Jargon isolate your audience. They can be demeaning, misunderstood, confusing, or even anger your audience. Keep your audience in mind!

Concrete words vs. Abstract words

Concrete words Possessing physical existence, capable of being experienced by the senses baseball, radio, peanuts.

Abstract words term is used to describe ideas and words that are removed from material reality love, peace, steady.

How to use them?

Concrete words can be highly effective because they clearly say what we want our audience to hear. Without clearly defining them, Abstract words may not communicate accurately with the audience. Its best to use a good mix of both types of words.

It clarifies and gives depth to your words.

Whats in a word?
Denotation vs. Connotation Denotation dictionary meaning Connotation the meaning we associate with the word.

Example Mother, Yellow Ribbon

Think Before You Speak

Before you use a word in your speech think about both the denotation and connotation meanings of the word this can work in your advantage.

Is it speaking or painting?
Creating Imagery with words
Education is important. vs. Education is the key that unlocks many of lifes opportunities. You have to work hard to make a marriage work. vs. Marriage is like a plant: If you care for it and give it time and attention, it will grow and prosper.

Your tools:

Check out the graph on page 348. (Figures of Speech) USE IT!

Comparison Imagery:
Metaphor a comparison of two usually unrelated things.
Ex. Education is the key to your future.

Simile a similar comparison using like or as to tie the words together.

Ex. Our government spends money as fast as McDonalds sells hamburgers!

Comparison Imagery:
Allusion a reference to a well-known person, place, thing or idea. (Be certain your audience knows what it is or means.)
Ex. Hes the Tiger Woods of architecture.

Contrast Imagery:
Antithesis Balancing/contrasting of one term against another.
Ex. Young Old, Rich Poor, Love Hate

Oxymoron Placing opposite terms side by side.

Ex. She is the momentary love of my life.

Contrast Imagery:
Irony Using a figure of speech that implies the opposite of what seems to be said on the surface. Ex. Check out the situation on page 349

Exaggeration Imagery:
Hyperbole Makes more of something for emphasis.
Ex. I called you a million times last night.

Understatement Makes less of something.

Ex. Michael Jordan was okay at basketball in his day.

Exaggeration Imagery:
Personification Gives human characteristics to nonhuman things. Ex. The car winked at me.

In groups of four, create two examples of each type of Imagery. (Submit your examples at the end of the period)