Chapter 12Chapter 12Using Effective LanguageUsing Effective Language

What Is Effective Language?What Is Effective Language?

What does it mean if What does it mean if something is something is effectiveeffective??

Levels of UsageLevels of Usage

What are What are levels of levels of usageusage??

Very formalVery formal Very informalVery informal

The most widely used The most widely used variety of English is variety of English is called called standard standard American EnglishAmerican English..

Comparing Good Speaking to Comparing Good Speaking to Good WritingGood Writing

The language in a speech differs from the The language in a speech differs from the language in a written essay.language in a written essay.

Spoken language:Spoken language: Relies on fewer wordsRelies on fewer words Uses shorter, more familiar wordsUses shorter, more familiar words Uses more personal pronounsUses more personal pronouns Uses repetition of words and phrases to aid Uses repetition of words and phrases to aid

memorymemory

Choosing the Right WordsChoosing the Right Words

When choosing words to use in your When choosing words to use in your speech, you must think of speech, you must think of clarityclarity..

Words in a speech need to be…Words in a speech need to be… SimpleSimple PrecisePrecise SpecificSpecific

Choosing the Right Words – Simple Choosing the Right Words – Simple WordsWords

Simple WordsSimple Words are familiar words, usually are familiar words, usually of one or two syllables.of one or two syllables.

Sometimes we try to use “fancy” words to Sometimes we try to use “fancy” words to sound more intelligent.sound more intelligent.

““There are too many people who use five There are too many people who use five dollar wordsdollar words to express fifty cent to express fifty cent sentiments.”sentiments.” Pedagogy = TeachingPedagogy = Teaching Supererogatory = unnecessarySupererogatory = unnecessary

Choosing the Right Words – Choosing the Right Words – Precise WordsPrecise Words

Precise wordsPrecise words express your thoughts and express your thoughts and feelings accurately, or exactly feelings accurately, or exactly (adjectives/adverbs).(adjectives/adverbs).

Vague:Vague: We had a We had a bad bad club meeting club meeting yesterday.yesterday. Bad? How?Bad? How?

Precise:Precise: We had a We had a disorganizeddisorganized club club meeting yesterday.meeting yesterday.

Choosing the Right WordsChoosing the Right Words Specific WordsSpecific Words identify identify

items within a category items within a category (nouns).(nouns).

Vague:Vague: Carmen drove by Carmen drove by in her in her vehiclevehicle..

Specific:Specific: Carmen drove Carmen drove by on her by on her MopedMoped..

Using Language ExpressivelyUsing Language Expressively

Sometimes ideas are Sometimes ideas are clear, but they lack clear, but they lack force.force.

Use Use vividnessvividness with with your words to make your words to make them memorable.them memorable. Sensory wordsSensory words Figurative languageFigurative language EmphasisEmphasis ToneTone

Using Language Expressively – Using Language Expressively – Sensory WordsSensory Words

Sensory wordsSensory words appeal to one or more of the appeal to one or more of the five senses.five senses.

Boring:Boring: Lena Lena walkedwalked out of the room. out of the room. Vivid:Vivid: Lena ___________ out of the room. Lena ___________ out of the room.

Boring:Boring: The The noisenoise was was loud.loud. Vivid: Vivid: The ___________ was _________.The ___________ was _________.

Using Language Expressively – Using Language Expressively – Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language consists of figures of consists of figures of speech – words and phrases that are not speech – words and phrases that are not literally true, but create a lively literally true, but create a lively understanding of a text.understanding of a text. SimileSimile MetaphorMetaphor Exaggeration (Hyperbole)Exaggeration (Hyperbole) UnderstatementUnderstatement IronyIrony

Using Language Expressively – Using Language Expressively – Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

SimileSimile – comparison – comparison using “like” or “as”using “like” or “as” He acts just like a pig!He acts just like a pig!

MetaphorMetaphor – – comparison without comparison without using “like” or “as”using “like” or “as” He is such a pig!He is such a pig!

Using Language Expressively – Using Language Expressively – Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Exaggeration (Hyperbole)Exaggeration (Hyperbole) emphasizes or emphasizes or enlarges a description of actions, enlarges a description of actions, emotions, or other qualities.emotions, or other qualities. Your mom is so ugly, when she walked into Your mom is so ugly, when she walked into

the haunted house, she came out with a job the haunted house, she came out with a job application.application.

My car broke down, and I had to walk 500 My car broke down, and I had to walk 500 miles to work!miles to work!

Using Language Expressively – Using Language Expressively – Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

UnderstatementUnderstatement is the opposite of is the opposite of exaggeration. Ideas or events are exaggeration. Ideas or events are diminished.diminished.

Ex: Your car explodes, and you call your Ex: Your car explodes, and you call your friend and say, “I’m having a little bit of car friend and say, “I’m having a little bit of car trouble.”trouble.”

Using Language Expressively – Using Language Expressively – Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

IronyIrony is the use of words to imply something is the use of words to imply something different from what is actually meant.different from what is actually meant. Ex: You find a wad of money and say, “Oh look! Ex: You find a wad of money and say, “Oh look!

Someone conveniently left this for me!”Someone conveniently left this for me!”

SarcasmSarcasm is irony that is cutting or bitter. is irony that is cutting or bitter. Ex: This class is great! It puts me to sleep Ex: This class is great! It puts me to sleep

everyday!everyday!

Using Language Expressively - Using Language Expressively - EmphasisEmphasis

EmphasisEmphasis is force or is force or special attention special attention given to a particular given to a particular word or point.word or point.

We can show We can show emphasis by:emphasis by: Using Using repetitionrepetition Using Using announcementannouncement

Using Language Expressively - Using Language Expressively - ToneTone

By using By using tonetone, speakers express their , speakers express their attitudes toward their subjects and attitudes toward their subjects and audiences.audiences. Vocal toneVocal tone

What kind of tone would you have if you were What kind of tone would you have if you were trying to persuade people to stop donating money trying to persuade people to stop donating money to a particular group?to a particular group?

Choice of LanguageChoice of Language Formal or InformalFormal or Informal

Adjusting Your Vocabulary to Suit Adjusting Your Vocabulary to Suit Your AudienceYour Audience

Review: You must adapt or adjust your Review: You must adapt or adjust your audience.audience.

Review: Involve your audience by:Review: Involve your audience by: Relating to their experienceRelating to their experience Using personal pronounsUsing personal pronouns Asking rhetorical questionsAsking rhetorical questions

Avoiding Common Language Avoiding Common Language ProblemsProblems

Several common problems with language Several common problems with language can make your speech less interesting.can make your speech less interesting. JargonJargon ClichéCliché EuphemismEuphemism SlangSlang Connotative wordsConnotative words

Avoiding Common Language Avoiding Common Language ProblemsProblems

JargonJargon is language that is used specifically is language that is used specifically by people within a particular group or field.by people within a particular group or field. ScalpelScalpel ForcepsForceps

Clichés Clichés are expressions that have been used are expressions that have been used to often that they have lost their effect.to often that they have lost their effect. Cold as iceCold as ice Run like the windRun like the wind

Avoiding Common Language Avoiding Common Language ProblemsProblems

EuphemismsEuphemisms are are words or phrases that words or phrases that are used in place of are used in place of words that are words that are thought to be thought to be unpleasant.unpleasant.

EuphemismEuphemism Direct TermDirect Term

Sanitary Sanitary EngineerEngineer

Garbage Garbage CollectorCollector

PassedPassed

AwayAway

DiedDied

Powder RoomPowder Room BathroomBathroom

Avoiding Common Language Avoiding Common Language ProblemsProblems

SlangSlang is highly is highly informal language informal language that is formed by that is formed by creating new words or creating new words or giving common words giving common words new meanings.new meanings.

CommonCommon SlangSlang

BadBad

GrillGrill

FlyFly

Avoiding Common Language Avoiding Common Language ProblemsProblems

ConnotationsConnotations are are emotions and emotions and associations that are associations that are suggested by certain suggested by certain words.words. Emotions and Emotions and

associations are associations are usually negative.usually negative.

Positive/Positive/

NeutralNeutral

NegativeNegative

ThriftyThrifty GreedyGreedy

RanRan ScurriedScurried

ConfidentConfident ConceitedConceited

Chapter 12 ReviewChapter 12 ReviewPage 312Page 312

Review QuestionsReview Questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 101, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question 44