To make your speech clear and understandable, use words with which the audience will be

Q: What does it mean to say that language should be appropriate to the speaker?

Using appropriate language means that a speakers language is suitable or fitting for themselves, as the speaker; our audience; the speaking context; and the speech itself.

There are so many benefits of speaking clearly, and it is true whether you are speaking a second language (or third or fourth!), or your native language. Speaking clearly is more than just about the pronunciation of words, correct stress, and your accent. It goes beyond all of this. Clear speech is about your entire message reaching your audience in the way you want it to be heard, without losing the connection to your audience.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Why is it important for speakers to use clear language?
What does it mean to say that language should be appropriate to the speaker?
Which of the following are techniques for ensuring language is appropriate to an audience that is not very familiar with the subject of your speech?
Why is it important to choose the right vocabulary when addressing an audience?

One basic benefit of clear speech is understandability. An absolute must of understandability is moving your mouth correctly and with more effort and articulation than you actually might think. When we listen to someone speak, we use much more than just our ears. Something that helps immensely is being able to see the speaker’s lips, as well.

Think about it in relation to the world we are living in right now. In Covid world, how many times have you had a difficult time understanding someone who is wearing a mask, or maybe someone can’t understand you. These not only muffle the sound and volume of our voices, but they also hide our mouths, making it even more difficult for someone to understand us. If someone literally can’t understand you because you are mumbling, cutting off the ends of words, or not finishing a thought or phrase clearly (many people lose energy at the ends of their phrases and “swallow” their words), then your message is not reaching your audience the way you might think.

Another benefit is directly related to how your mouth is moving, and how your message is reaching your audience. When your mouth moves correctly, it is able to make the correct sounds, and people don’t have to use extra effort to understand what you said, which keeps them engaged with you. When speaking or presenting on a Zoom call or live in person, if you don’t enunciate clearly, then the people listening to you need to take a few small moments to ask “What did they just say?” That leaves them behind, and they have to catch up with you, and at that point… you have lost some of the connection with them.

When I was a member of a Shakespeare company in New York City, it was so important that I made the language as clear as possible. There are words that Shakespeare used that don’t exist anymore in English, or they meant something completely different 400+ years ago. It was my job to make these words and phrases as understandable as possible. If not, the audience has to work overtime, and most times they just “check out” altogether.

And yet another benefit of clear speech that helps you be extra engaging is understanding the techniques of pitch, rhythm, and volume. You probably already incorporate these elements into your daily life, and being aware of how to use them to your benefit is a seriously effective and powerful tool. When your speech has more variety, it makes the experience more alive and active. People start to listen to you in a new way. They are fully engaged, and lean in to hear you more. Implementing pitch, rhythm, and volume guides your listener to the exact information that you want them to hear, exactly in the places you want them to.

Think about comedians. How do they land a joke? Look at any stand up routine or comedy show online and you’ll find tons of examples. How do they set up the audience for the punchline? How do they use their voice to tell you when to laugh? How do they use their voice to imitate other people in the story? Comedians are masters at using elements of pitch, rhythm, and volume!

Clear speech may seem super basic at first, but there are many aspects of it that get overlooked. Contrast, comparison, and antithesis are a few of these basics that have maximum potential to create clarity. The basics are not only a fundamental part of presentations, they are also one of the most important. Being aware of how to effectively implement them is a powerful way to unlock the clarity of your message.

abstract8.To avoid clutter, speakers should eliminateindents and other visual markers.references to people, places, or things.redundant adjectives and adverbs.overly simple phrases.9.The speech excerpt, "If you want to produce a prevalent brownie, you must use supersedingchocolate," illustrates which of the following?