Introduction to Public
Speaking
Chapters 11 and 12
Why is Language Important?

“The English language is the accretion and
growth of every dialect, race and range of
time” – Walt Whitman
 What
are examples of words whose meanings
have changed over time?
Meanings of Words
Denotative meaning – the literal or
dictionary meaning of a word or phrase
 Connotative Meaning – the meaning
suggested by the associations or emotions
triggered by a word or phrase

 Pro-life
and Pro-choice vs. anti-abortion and
pro-abortion
Using Language Accurately

Make sure that the word you say has the
meaning you want it to have
 Persecution
vs. Prosecution
 Examples of times that you have used words
improperly?
Use Language Clearly

Be sure that your words are clear to the
people who are hearing them.
 Remember,
people can’t go back and look at
your words once they are spoken (as you can
with a book)
 If unsure, use a dictionary!
Use Familiar Words
“In
the eventuality of a fire, it
is imperative that all persons
evacuate the building without
undue delay”
Concrete vs. Abstract Words

Concrete Words – Words that refer to
tangible objects
 Carrot,

Pencil, Door
Abstract Words – Words that refer to ideas
or concepts
 Humility,
progress, philosophy
Clutter
Clutter
– Discourse that takes
many more words than are
necessary to express 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 Vividly

Imagery – The use of vivid language to
create mental images of objects, actions,
or ideas
Use Language Vividly
Use Language Vividly
Simile – an explicit comparison, introduced
with the word, “like” or “as,” between
things that are essentially different yet
have something in common.
 Metaphor – An implicit comparison, not
introduced with “like” or “as,” between
two things that are essentially different
yet have something in common.

Rhythm

The pattern of sound in a speech created
by the choice and arrangement of words
 “Pease
porridge hot, Pease porridge cold.
Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.”
 “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

The similar arrangement of a pair or series
of related words, phrases, or sentences
 “Rich
and poor, intelligent and ignorant, wise
and foolish, virtuous and vicious, mand and
woman – it is ever the same, each sould must
depend wholly on itself.” – Elizabeth Cady
Stanton
Repetition

Reiteration of the same word or set of
words at the beginning or end of
successive clauses or sentences.
 “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

Repetition of the initial consonant sound
of close or adjoining words.
 “Peace
is essential for progress, but progress
is no less essential for peace.” – Liaquat Al
Khan
Antithesis

The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas,
usually in parallel structure
 “Ask
not what your country can do for you;
ask what you can do for your country.” – John
F. Kennedy
Methods of Delivery

Manuscript Speech – A speech that is
written out word for word and read to the
audience
 May
seem easier, but can be much more
difficult

Reciting from Memory
 Today,
only used for short speeches (toasts,
acceptance speeches, etc)
Methods of Delivery
Methods of Delivery

Impromptu Speeches – A speech delivered with
little or no immediate preparation



State the points you are going to talk about
Support your points with appropriate statistics,
examples or testimony
Summarize your points



Sketch a quick outline
Gather your thoughts before speaking
Keep audience on track by signposting: “My first point is…;
Second, we can see that…; In conclusion….”
Methods of Delivery

Extemporaneous speech – A carefully
prepared and rehearsed speech that is
presented from a brief set of notes
 What
you’ve been doing all semester!
Extemporaneous Speech
The Speakers Voice
Volume
 Pitch




Rate


Inflection – affects meanings of words (Oooh)
Monotone
Tendency to talk fast…practice slow!
Pauses

“The right word may be effective, but no word was
ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” – Mark
Twain
The Speakers Voice

Vocal Variety –
Changes in the
speaker’s rate, pitch,
and volume that give
the voice variety and
expressiveness
The Speakers Voice

Pronunciation – The accepted standard of sound
and rhythm for words in a given language


Articulation – the physical production of
particular speech sounds





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
Personal Appearance
 Movement

 Before

Gestures
 What

and After a speech
do you do with your hands???
Eye Contact
 The
Eye Contact Challenge
 Remember Cultural Differences
The Speakers Body
Speaking Assignments
17th – Jason, Natasha, Ryan, Chet, Kevin
 22nd – Ben, Joe, Jen, Bhavin, Tenecia,
Sarah, Justin, Katie, Courtney, Erin
 24th – Farah, Scott, Julien, Nila, Shanna,
 29th – Veda, Kim, Megen, Danielle, Kyle
and Impromptu Speeches Begin
 Questions about persuasive speeches???
