Speech Exercise: The Mirror Face Test

Speech Skills Lesson 1

Stop Dropping Your G's; Enunciation Matters Speech Skill: Clarity

A mirror is a great aid when youre working on your enunciation. I call this the face test. When youre enunciating properly, your mouth, tongue, lips and jaw move. Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself while you say, Im going to have to rethink that bid. See how your lips purse and retract when you say go-ing? See how your lips jut out to pronouce the b in bid? This one sentence is a real face workout. Say the rest of the sentences out loud, watching yourself speak in the mirror. Now say them all again, slowing down your rate of speech and exaggerating the facial movements. This week, you should have a mirror session of five minutes every day. Youll immediately notice that this practice will carry over into your normal speaking life, causing you to be more conscious of the way you speak and speak more clearly. Speech Exercise: Enlist a Speech Monitor Because its so hard to perform naturally when were focusing on speaking well, the best way to determine whether or not were enunciating properly when we speak and stop slurring and mumbling is to enlist a speech monitor. Its a lot easier for someone else to pick up on our sloppy speech habits than to hear ourselves. For convenience, choose someone that lives with you (spouse, child, or roommate), explain that youre working on your enunciation, and ask him or her to tell you whenever you drop a G or dont speak clearly. Keep track of how often your speech monitor tells you youve committed this speech offense. What you should see, as you continue to practice speaking clearly, is the number of times your speech monitor hears you speaking sloppily decrease. Ready for the pressure situation? Ask someone who works with you regularly to be a speech monitor. The Benefits of Enunciation As your enunciation improves, your listeners will: Form a better impression of you as you speak, thinking of you as an educated, knowledgeable person, more worthy of trust. Be better able to focus on the message youre communicating, rather than being distracted by the way youre expressing yourself.

Welcome to the Speak for Success communication course. This speech lesson, like all the speech lessons in the course, follows a format that explains the speech problem and presents several speech exercises so you can work on the problem. Each speech lesson closes with a homework assignment designed to provide further practice eliminating or correcting the speech problem that youre working with that particular week. To get the most out of this course, you need to follow the program, working on only one lesson each week and completing all the exercises and homework assignments. Ready? Of course you are! The speech problem of sloppy enunciation is the topic for this week. The Speech Problem For listeners, one of the most irritating speech habits is a speaker that doesnt enunciate clearly. When you dont bother to pronounce each syllable of each word properly and words get slurred together, you sound uneducated. Worse, your listener has a hard time hearing you especially if theres other noise around you or when youre speaking on the phone. Dropping gs is one of the most common examples of poor enunciation. Say this list of words out loud: Going Walking Jogging Thinking Striking Selling

Did you say go-ing or did you say go-in? If you said goin (or walk-in, jog-gin, etc.), youre a G-dropper. Be warned; this was not a fair test. Pronouncing words in isolation is very different than what we normally do when we speak. Say these sentences out loud: Im going to have to rethink that bid. Waiting to hear back from the bank is very nervewracking and stressful. Before starting my business, I looked at a lot of different business opportunities. Theres more to learning than just reading, writing and arithmetic.

Speech Lesson 1 Homework Assignment To get the most out of this course, as I said, its important that you do the exercises. Your speech wont improve unless you work at it regularly. This week, you have two tasks;

Did you drop any Gs? Did you enunciate each syllable of each word?

1. set aside five minutes a day where you can work with a mirror in a quiet place and practice the enunciation exercises above; 2. enlist at least one speech monitor to help you catch your speech errors.

Additional Speech Exercise: Tongue Twisters

1) Keeping customers content creates kingly profits. 2) Success seeds success. 3) Bigger business isnt better business but better business brings bigger rewards. 4) Wanting wont win; winning ways are active ways. 5) Seventeen sales slips slithered slowly southwards. 6) Dont go deep into debt. 7) Ensuring excellence isnt easy. 8) Time takes a terrible toll on intentions. Six sick slick slim sycamore saplings. A box of biscuits, a batch of mixed biscuits A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers? If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked? Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry. Unique New York. Betty Botter had some butter, "But," she said, "this butter's bitter. If I bake this bitter butter, it would make my batter bitter. But a bit of better butter-that would make my batter better." So she bought a bit of butter, better than her bitter butter, and she baked it in her batter, and the batter was not bitter. So 'twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter. Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick. Is this your sister's sixth zither, sir? A big black bug bit a big black bear, made the big black bear bleed blood. The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick. Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat. One smart fellow, he felt smart. Two smart fellows, they felt smart. Three smart fellows, they all felt smart. Pope Sixtus VI's six texts. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit. She sells sea shells by the sea shore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she sells seashore shells. Mrs. Smith's Fish Sauce Shop. "Surely Sylvia swims!" shrieked Sammy, surprised.

"Someone should show Sylvia some strokes so she shall not sink." A Tudor who tooted a flute tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to their tutor, "Is it harder to toot or to tutor two tooters to toot?" Shy Shelly says she shall sew sheets. Three free throws. I am not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's mate. I am only plucking pheasants 'cause the pheasant plucker's running late. Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks. A flea and a fly flew up in a flue. Said the flea, "Let us fly!" Said the fly, "Let us flee!" So they flew through a flaw in the flue. Knapsack straps. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches? Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better. A bitter biting bittern Bit a better brother bittern, And the bitter better bittern Bit the bitter biter back. And the bitter bittern, bitten, By the better bitten bittern, Said: "I'm a bitter biter bit, alack!" Inchworms itching. A noisy noise annoys an oyster. The myth of Miss Muffet. Mr. See owned a saw. And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw. Now See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw Before Soar saw See, Which made Soar sore. Had Soar seen See's saw Before See sawed Soar's seesaw, See's saw would not have sawed Soar's seesaw. So See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw. But it was sad to see Soar so sore Just because See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw! Friendly Frank flips fine flapjacks. Vincent vowed vengeance very vehemently. Cheap ship trip. I cannot bear to see a bear Bear down upon a hare. When bare of hair he strips the hare, Right there I cry, "Forbear!" Lovely lemon liniment. Gertie's great-grandma grew aghast at Gertie's grammar. Tim, the thin twin tinsmith Fat frogs flying past fast. I need not your needles, they're needless to me; For kneading of noodles, 'twere needless, you see; But did my neat knickers but need to be kneed, I then should have need of your needles indeed. Flee from fog to fight flu fast! Greek grapes. The boot black bought the black boot back. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck

if a woodchuck could chuck wood? He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood. We surely shall see the sun shine soon. Moose noshing much mush. Ruby Rugby's brother bought and brought her back some rubber baby-buggy bumpers. Sly Sam slurps Sally's soup. My dame hath a lame tame crane, My dame hath a crane that is lame. Six short slow shepherds. A tree toad loved a she-toad Who lived up in a tree. He was a two-toed tree toad But a three-toed toad was she. The two-toed tree toad tried to win The three-toed she-toad's heart, For the two-toed tree toad loved the ground That the three-toed tree toad trod. But the two-toed tree toad tried in vain. He couldn't please her whim. From her tree toad bower With her three-toed power The she-toad vetoed him. Which witch wished which wicked wish? Old oily Ollie oils old oily autos. The two-twenty-two train tore through the tunnel. Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep. The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooed shilly-shallied south. These sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack; sheep should sleep in a shed. Twelve twins twirled twelve twigs. Three gray geese in the green grass grazing. Gray were the geese and green was the grass. Many an anemone sees an enemy anemone. Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely. Peggy Babcock. You've no need to light a night-light On a light night like tonight, For a night-light's light's a slight light, And tonight's a night that's light. When a night's light, like tonight's light, It is really not quite right To light night-lights with their slight lights On a light night like tonight. Black bug's blood. Flash message! Say this sharply, say this sweetly, Say this shortly, say this softly. Say this sixteen times in succession. Six sticky sucker sticks. If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews? Crisp crusts crackle crunchily. Give papa a cup of proper coffee in a copper coffee cup. Six sharp smart sharks. What a shame such a shapely sash should such shabby stitches show. Sure the ship's shipshape, sir. Betty better butter Brad's bread.

Of all the felt I ever felt, I never felt a piece of felt which felt as fine as that felt felt, when first I felt that felt hat's felt. Sixish. Don't pamper damp scamp tramps that camp under ramp lamps. Swan swam over the sea, Swim, swan, swim! Swan swam back again Well swum, swan! Six shimmering sharks sharply striking shins. I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. Brad's big black bath brush broke. Thieves seize skis. Chop shops stock chops. Sarah saw a shot-silk sash shop full of shot-silk sashes as the sunshine shone on the side of the shot-silk sash shop. Strict strong stringy Stephen Stretch slickly snared six sickly silky snakes. Susan shineth shoes and socks; socks and shoes shines Susan. She ceased shining shoes and socks, for shoes and socks shock Susan. Truly rural. The blue bluebird blinks. Betty and Bob brought back blue balloons from the big bazaar. When a twister a-twisting will twist him a twist, For the twisting of his twist, he three twines doth intwist; But if one of the twines of the twist do untwist, The twine that untwisteth untwisteth the twist. Untwirling the twine that untwisteth between, He twirls, with his twister, the two in a twine; Then twice having twisted the twines of the twine, He twitcheth the twice he had twined in twain. The twain that in twining before in the twine, As twines were intwisted he now doth untwine; Twist the twain inter-twisting a twine more between, He, twirling his twister, makes a twist of the twine. The Leith police dismisseth us. The seething seas ceaseth and twiceth the seething seas sufficeth us. If one doctor doctors another doctor, does the doctor who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does he doctor the doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors? Two Truckee truckers truculently truckling to have truck to truck two trucks of truck. Plague-bearing prairie dogs. Ed had edited it. She sifted thistles through her thistle-sifter. Give me the gift of a grip top sock: a drip-drape, ship-shape, tip-top sock. While we were walking, we were watching window washers wash Washington's windows with warm washing water. Freshly fried fresh flesh. Pacific Lithograph. Six twin screwed steel steam cruisers. The crow flew over the river with a lump of raw liver. Preshrunk silk shirts

A bloke's back bike brake block broke. A pleasant place to place a plaice is a place where a plaice is pleased to be placed. I correctly recollect Rebecca MacGregor's reckoning. Good blood, bad blood. Quick kiss. Quicker kiss. I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. Cedar shingles should be shaved and saved. Lily ladles little Letty's lentil soup. Amidst the mists and coldest frosts, with stoutest wrists and loudest boasts, he thrusts his fist against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts. Shelter for six sick scenic sightseers. Listen to the local yokel yodel. Give Mr. Snipa's wife's knife a swipe. Whereat with blade, with bloody, blameful blade, he bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. Are our oars oak? Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie? A lusty lady loved a lawyer and longed to lure him from his laboratory. The epitome of femininity. She stood on the balcony inexplicably mimicing him hiccupping, and amicably welcoming him home. Kris Kringle carefully crunched on candy canes. Please pay promptly. On mules we find two legs behind and two we find before. We stand behind before we find what those behind be for. What time does the wristwatch strap shop shut? One-One was a racehorse. Two-Two was one, too. When One-One won one race, Two-Two won one, too. Girl gargoyle, guy gargoyle. Pick a partner and practice passing, for if you pass proficiently, perhaps you'll play professionally. Once upon a barren moor There dwelt a bear, also a boar. The bear could not bear the boar. The boar thought the bear a bore. At last the bear could bear no more Of that boar that bored him on the moor, And so one morn he bored the boar-That boar will bore the bear no more. If a Hottentot taught a Hottentot tot To talk ere the tot could totter, Ought the Hottenton tot Be taught to say aught, or naught, Or what ought to be taught her? If to hoot and to toot a Hottentot tot Be taught by her Hottentot tutor, Ought the tutor get hot If the Hottentot tot Hoot and toot at her Hottentot tutor?

Will you, William? Mix, Miss Mix! Who washed Washington's white woolen underwear when Washington's washer woman went west? Two toads, totally tired. Freshly-fried flying fish. The sawingest saw I ever saw saw was the saw I saw saw in Arkansas. Just think, that sphinx has a sphincter that stinks! Strange strategic statistics. Sarah sitting in her Chevrolet, All she does is sits and shifts, All she does is sits and shifts. Hi-Tech Traveling Tractor Trailor Truck Tracker Ned Nott was shot and Sam Shott was not. So it is better to be Shott than Nott. Some say Nott was not shot. But Shott says he shot Nott. Either the shot Shott shot at Nott was not shot, or Nott was shot. If the shot Shott shot shot Nott, Nott was shot. But if the shot Shott shot shot Shott, then Shott was shot, not Nott. However, the shot Shott shot shot not Shott -but Nott. Six slippery snails, slid slowly seaward. Three twigs twined tightly. There was a young fisher named Fischer Who fished for a fish in a fissure. The fish with a grin, Pulled the fisherman in; Now they're fishing the fissure for Fischer. Pretty Kitty Creighton had a cotton batten cat. The cotton batten cat was bitten by a rat. The kitten that was bitten had a button for an eye, And biting off the button made the cotton batten fly. Suddenly swerving, seven small swans Swam silently southward, Seeing six swift sailboats Sailing sedately seaward. The ochre ogre ogled the poker. If you stick a stock of liquor in your locker, It's slick to stick a lock upon your stock, Or some stickler who is slicker Will stick you of your liquor If you fail to lock your liquor With a lock! Shredded Swiss chesse. The soldiers shouldered shooters on their shoulders. Theophiles Thistle, the successful thistle-sifter, in sifting a sieve full of un-sifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. Now.....if Theophiles Thistle, the successful thistle-sifter, in sifting a sieve full of un-sifted thistles,

thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, see that thou, in sifting a sieve full of un-sifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb. Success to the successful thistle-sifter! Thank the other three brothers of their father's mother's brother's side. They both, though, have thirty-three thick thimbles to thaw. Irish wristwatch. Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Cows graze in groves on grass which grows in grooves in groves. Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons -- balancing them badly. Tragedy strategy. Selfish shellfish. They have left the thriftshop, and lost both their theatre tickets and the volume of valuable licenses and coupons for free theatrical frills and thrills.

Speech Exercise: The Tell-Me Game

Speech Skills Lesson 2

Speech Skill: Clarity

This exercise is designed to test your speech to see if you use fillers and to identify your favourite filler words and phrases. You will need a partner, such as the person who agreed to be your speech monitor in Speak For Success Speech Lesson 1, to listen to you. Tell your partner the purpose of the game. His task is to identify and list all fillers as you speak. Set a timer for one minute. Your task is to speak for one minute on this topic:

The Speech Problem If sloppy enunciation is one of the most irritating speech habits, using excessive fillers while you speak is the most irritating speech habit. Fillers range from repetitious sounds, such as uh, um and the dreaded Canadian eh, through favourite catch words and phrases, such as you know, anyway, all right and like. I wont even attempt to give a full list of them here, because new fillers such as whatever are continuously creeping into peoples speech. The problem with using fillers such as these when you speak is that they distract your listener often to the point that he doesnt hear anything you say. Your message is entirely lost, obscured by the thicket of fillers surrounding it. Think about the last time you listened to someone with the filler habit. Chances are good you spent the time he spoke either being annoyed or counting the number of times he said the filler phrase. And with some people, that number can be amazingly high. Some people tack fillers onto the end of every sentence, and sandwich them between every phrase. It becomes, you know, really difficult for them to say anything without adding these empty additional phrases, you know? And speech fillers are insidious. If youre a person that uses fillers, you may not even be aware of the speech problem yourself. Fillers tend to become so embedded into our speech patterns that even once youre aware that youre using them, youll have a very hard time trying not to say them. Guard Against Stock Responses Even if you dont usually stud your speech with fillers, you may find yourself falling back on stock responses that irritate your listeners. Stock responses are phrases that we develop over time to particular communication situations, such as statements that call for acknowledgement and nothing else. For instance, I once knew a person that responded, Okeydokey whenever he was asked to do something. Now picture yourself as this persons boss and repeatedly having to ask him to do things. (Shudder.) Try to vary your response to these standard situations, rather than falling back on whatever your stock response is every time. Avoid slang and cute phrases as you would avoid the plague. If youre having trouble varying your responses, pick several neutral, formal phrases, such as Right away, I will and/or Yes, certainly, and stick to those. Your businesss products and /or services.

Do NOT allow yourself any time to think about the topic. Just speak. Speaking impromptu will more closely reproduce your usual speech habits. How did you do? Are you a filler user? If you are, theres work to do to fix your sloppy speech habit. Continue to use the Tell-Me Game to try and cut down on the number of fillers you use in spontaneous speech. Increase the time of the exercise to two minutes. Speech Exercise: Have Your Fillers Monitored As the only way youre going to eliminate fillers from your speech is through constant diligence, the help of your speech monitor (or monitors) will be invaluable. Once again, explain the speech problem you are working on, and have him tell you every time you commit this speech offence in his presence. If youre serious about breaking this sloppy speech habit, having one monitor at home and one in your work environment is ideal. The Benefits of Eliminating Fillers As was the case with the first sloppy speech habit you tackled, as your speech fillers decrease, your listeners will: Form a better impression of you as you speak, thinking of you as an educated, knowledgeable person, more worthy of trust; Be better able to focus on the message youre communicating, rather than being distracted by the way youre expressing yourself.

Speech Lesson 2 Homework Assignment Your first task this week is simple: use the Tell-Me Game at least once to identify your favourite filler words and phrases. The second task is much harder; work to eliminate the extraneous fillers in your speech. Continue working with a partner and playing the Tell-Me-Game throughout the week. Get your speech monitor or monitors involved to help catch the fillers you use. As you become more conscious of the way you speak and practice speaking without fillers, youll find your filler use decrease. In the next speech lesson, youll work on the skill of expression.

Speech Exercise: More Speech Topics For The Tell-Me Game Speech Skill: Clarity You will need a partner for this exercise. As the listener, your partners role is to listen for the particular speech problem being worked on and record all instances of the speech problem. As the speaker, your role is to speak impromptu on one of the following speech topics for two minutes. Do NOT spend time thinking about the topic before you speak.

1. Your favourite hobby and why its your favourite.

2.

3.
4.

5.
6.

7. 8.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

16.
17. 18.

19.

What you would do if you won five million dollars on the lottery? If you had unlimited resources, what would you do to improve your business? What do you like best about what you do? Why? Which of the five senses is most important? Why? What skill or talent would you most like to have? Why? Why is the current federal government doing such a bad job? What should your town do to create a better climate for business? What are the best places to eat in your town or city? Why? What are the best things to do to relax? Why? Whats the worst fault a person can have? Why? If you could be young again, would you? Why? What are the four things you least like to do? Why? Who do you most admire? Why? If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go? Why? What are your three best personality traits? Why? What do you like most about living where you live? Why? What was the worst job you ever had? Why? What was the best workshop or conference youve ever attended? Why?

Increase the difficulty of this speech exercise by speaking impromptu on one of the topics above for three minutes - or even five minutes, if you dare.

Speech Skills Lesson 3 Enthusiasm and Monotones Dont Mix Speech Skill: Expression
The Speech Problem Speaking in a monotonous voice is a real communication killer. When the variety of your voices pitch doesnt vary, its impossible for your listener to maintain any interest in what youre saying. He tunes out quickly. Once again, your message falls by the wayside. But even if he did hear it, he probably wouldnt believe it. People who speak in a monotone or with inappropriate expression in their voices are perceived as untrustworthy, boring, or even shifty. As a business, sales or professional person, you can see why youd want to fix this sloppy speech problem right away! Other Speech Problems of Expression Now, you may be saying to yourself (with a sigh of relief), I certainly dont speak in a monotone! Thats excellent news, but unfortunately, the obvious monotone, where there is no variety of pitch in the voice, is only one sloppy speech habit related to expression. A far more common problem is a lack of appropriate vocal variety, or, as I call it, tired voice. If you have tired voice, your speech just doesnt convey the appropriate emotional shadings and vitality that make peoples voices interesting and pleasant to hear. Think of it this way; your voice is as much a part of your signature style as the color of your eyes or the way you walk. People can identify you by these signature traits. And in some cases, people have developed signature voices that are grating, braying, booming or otherwise just downright unpleasant for other people to listen to because their voices are not suitably expressive. The good news is that having a monotonous or tired voice is not a life sentence. Everyone can change their signature voice (to some degree, barring physical complications) just as we can change the way we walk or even the colour of our eyes. Speech Exercise: Emotion Sentences The purpose of this exercise is to practice getting more vocal variety into your speech, so you are going to be saying these sentences in different ways. First, say the sentence out loud as you would if you were ecstatically happy. Then say the same sentence out loud as you would if you were extremely sad.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

I just got a call saying that I won a vacation in Las Vegas. Im going to have to change that light bulb. Our town now has a new recycling program. My next door neighbour is moving out next week. Ill be able to retire in only two more years.

Speech Exercise 1: Belief Sentences The purpose of this exercise is to practice conveying meaning through expression in your speech, so once again, you are going to be saying these sentences in different ways. First, say the sentence out loud as you would if you truly believed the statement. Then say the same sentence out loud as you would if you didnt believe what you were saying and wanted to convey your disbelief to your listener. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Youll never regret buying one of these. This extended warranty is a great deal. This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What Im doing now is the best thing Ive ever done. I am the best at what I do.

Speech Exercise 2: Drama Queens and Kings Picture yourself as a star of a long-running soap opera or TV show. What do stars do? They emote. This role-playing speech exercise will help you develop a more expressive voice by exaggerating your normal pitch and rhythm. Put as much expression into your role as you can, following the stage directions. Its best if you work with a partner, as the script is written for two people although trying to play both roles can be fun, too! Speech Exercise Script Daphne: (horribly upset) Its all over, Rodney. Rodney: (anxiously) What do you mean? Daphne: I mean I just cant go on like this. The sneaking around, the hiding, trying to make sure that no one sees us... Rodney: (compassionately) It hasnt been easy for me, either, you know. Daphne: I know... I know... Rodney: I mean, its just not what were used to, is it? I know that you understand, but other people... What if they found out? I cant stop thinking about it. Daphne: (brutally) Wed never be able to hold up our heads again. Wed be outcasts. Rodney: (firmly) If we just stick together, we can get through it. Wheres your famous will power? Daphne: But its driving me mad. How much worse than this could it be? I just cant stop thinking about it. Rodney: So thats it, then? Youre just going to throw in the towel? Daphne: I have to, Rodney. Dont you understand? I thought you of all people... Rodney: (bitterly) Oh, I understand, all right. Go ahead then. You always do just what you want to do anyhow. Daphne: (outraged) Thats not true! How dare you accuse me of being selfish after all the sacrifices Ive made!

Rodney: See? All you can talk about is your sacrifices. As if I havent made any. And now youre being selfish again. How do you think Im going to be able to carry on by myself? Daphne: (snidely) Well you were the one that was talking about will power. Rodney: Yeah, right. As if Im going to be able to stick to this protein only diet once you start filling the cupboards with bread and doughnuts again! End Speech Exercise Script Like any star, you may rerun these lines any number of times. For more variety, change the stage directions. In the opening lines, have Daphne speak calmly and Rodney curiously, for instance. Reading the lines of published plays and scripts out loud is another great way to practice increasing the expression in your voice and of course, to continue polishing your clarity speech skills. The Benefits of Improving Your Speech Expression As your voice expression increases, your listeners will: Be more interested in what youre saying and more attentive; Be more likely to be receptive to you and the message youre communicating.

A speech lesson especially for those who speak too quickly or too slowly is up next. http://www.simplyscripts.com/
Roman Polanski's parents returned to Poland from France just two years before the World War II began: both were taken later to concentration camps where his mother eventually died. Young Roman managed to escape the ghetto and learned to survive wandering through the Polish countryside and living with the different Catholic families. Though local people usually ignored cinemas where mostly German films were shown, Polanski seemed not very much concerned about patriotism and frequently went to the movies. In 1945 he reunited with his father who sent him to technical school, but young Polanski seemed to have already made his choice. In the 50s he took up acting, appearing in Andrzej Wajda's Pokolenie (1955) before studying at the Lodz Film School. His early shorts such as Dwaj ludzie z szafa (1958), Gros et le maigre, Le (1961) and Ssaki (1963) showed his taste for black humor and interest in bizarre human relationships. His feature debut, Nz w wodzie (1962), was the first Polish post-war film not associated with the war theme. Though being already a major Polish filmmaker Polanski yet chose to leave the country and headed to France. Being down-and-out in Paris, he befriended young scriptwriter, Grard Brach, who eventually became his long-time collaborator. The next two films, Repulsion (1965) and Cul-de-sac (1966), made in England and cowritten by Brach, won respectively Silver and Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festivals. In 1968 Polanski went to Hollywood, where he made the psychological thriller Rosemary's Baby (1968). However, after the brutal murder of his wife Sharon Tate by the infamous Manson gang in 1969, the director decided to return to Europe. In 1974 he again appeared with a US release of Chinatown (1974). It seemed the beginning of the promising Hollywood career, but after his conviction for the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl, Polanski fled from America to avoid prison. After Tess (1979), which was awarded several Oscars and Cesars, his work became intermittent and rarely approached the level of his better known films. The director also stretched his talents to include occasional work in theatre. He still likes to act in the films of other directors, sometimes with interesting results as it was in Pura formalit, Una (1994).

Speech Lesson 3 Homework Assignment Set aside a minimum of 15 minutes a day this week to work on your voice expression. Start by working through the exercises on and linked to this page. You will want to go through each of these speech exercises at least three times. In addition, youll want to start working with other passages. As I suggest at the end of the Drama Queens and Kings exercise, published plays are an excellent source of material for improving your expression speech skill. Reading poetry out loud is another excellent practice. Perhaps the best source of speech exercise material is childrens books. When we read one of these aloud to a child, we tend to try out a variety of different voices and exaggerate the expression in our voices in response to the childs response as we read. If you have no childrens books (or children) on hand, remember that any fiction will work. Use your fifteen minutes a day to read out loud. Its best if you read to an audience, as having an audience will help you focus on using expression to interest (and perhaps enthrall) your listeners. Over time as you consistently practice this speech skill, youll find your signature voice change becoming both more expressive and more pleasing.

SCRIPT FRAGMENT THE NINTH GATE

A Screenplay by Roman Polanski, John Brownjohn and Enrique Urbizu Based on a novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte 1. TELFER HOUSE: LIBRARY INT/NIGHT ANDREW TELFER, a scrawny seventy-year-old, is writing a note at his desk in one corner of a big, book-lined room. Dangling from the central chandelier is a noose. A chair stands beneath it. TELFER looks up for a moment. Blankly, he eyes a framed photoportrait on his desk: a beautiful, thirty-something blonde returns his gaze with an enigmatic smile. He stops writing and folds the sheet, scrawls something on the back, and leaves it on the desk. Then he walks to the centre of the room and climbs on the chair. He puts his head through the noose and tightens it around his neck. He kicks away the back of the chair, but it doesn't fall. Frantically, he tries again: this time the chair topples over. The chandelier squeaks as it swings on its hook, but it holds. Fragments of plaster come raining down. TELFER's neck isn't broken: he starts to choke. His feet perform a convulsive dance in mid-air only six inches above the floor; one of his shoes comes off.

The CAMERA leaves the dying man and MOVES IN on the bookshelves. To the accompaniment of choking sounds, it PANS across the serried rows of volumes until it reaches a gap that shows where one of them has been removed. The choking sounds cease. The CAMERA enters the black void left by the missing book. Absolute, abysmal DARKNESS. 3. MANHATTAN APARTMENT INT/DAY The Manhattan skyline seen through a picture window. Above it, reflected in the windowpane, the face of an OLD WOMAN seated with her back to the room. Her expression is impassive and self-absorbed, her twisted mouth suggests she's a stroke victim. She seems quite uninvolved in the action behind her. CORSO (O.S.) An impressive collection. You have some very rare editions here. Sure you want to sell them all? We now discover the speaker, BOB CORSO: a tall, lean, rather unkempt man in his 30's. Steel-rimmed glasses, crumpled old tweed jacket, worn cords, scuffed brown oxfords. He could almost be a shabby university teacher if it weren't for the street-wise glint in his eye. He replaces a book on a shelf. Standing beside him is the Old Woman's SON, a middle-aged man with a puffy red face. Her DAUGHTER-IN-LAW looks on, one hand cupping her elbow, the fingers of the other playing avidly with her lower lip. The SON is cuddling a large Scotch on the rocks like it's an integral part of his anatomy. His tone is too lugubrious to be true. SON: They're no use to Father, not anymore -not now he's passed away. His library was his own little world. Now it's just a painful memory for Mother here. DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: Unbearably painful. CORSO glances at them over the top of his glasses, then at the OLD WOMAN. It's clear that the OLD WOMAN's true source of pain is their rapacious desire to convert her late husband's library into hard cash. CORSO picks up a notebook, adjusts his glasses with an instinctive, habitual movement, taps the notebook with his pencil. CORSO: Well, at a rough, preliminary estimate, you have a collection here worth around two hundred thousand dollars. DAUGHTER-IN-LAW thousand?! CORSO : Or thereabouts. (almost jumps): Two hundred

CORSO: Hmm... I couldn't go higher than four grand -- four-and-ahalf tops. (takes an envelope from his shoulder bag and starts peeling off some bills) 4. MANHATTAN APARTMENT HOUSE CORRIDOR INT/DAY CORSO strides briskly along the corridor toward the elevator with the canvas bag slung from his shoulder. He's grinning to himself. The bag is obviously heavier than it was. The elevator doors open just as he's about to press the button. He almost collides with a bespectacled, briefcase-carrying man in a three-piece suit and bow tie (WITKIN) -- a cross between an intellectual and a business executive. WITKIN (caustically): You here? You didn't waste much time. CORSO: Hello, Witkin. There's a small fortune in there. (smiles sardonically) Help yourself. WITKIN (eyes CORSO's beg suspiciously): You're a vulture, Corso. CORSO: Who isn't in our business? WITKIN: You'd stoop to anything. CORSO brushes past him into the elevator, turns and pats his shoulder bag. CORSO: For a 'Quixote' by Ybarra? You bet I would. WITKIN (indignantly): Unscrupulous, thoroughly unscrupulous! CORSO (thumbs the elevator button): Good hunting! The doors close on WITKIN's indignant face. 5. BERNIE'S BOOKSTORE EXT/INT/DAY A sign says "CLOSED." CORSO pushes open the door of an old fashioned semibasement bookstore -- 'BERNIE'S RARE BOOKS' -- and enters. He walks up to the counter and deposits his bag on it. BERNIE (O.S.): Witkin just called me. He's spitting blood. CORSO looks around. The voice came from ten feet up and three bookcases along. BERNIE FELDMAN, a man around CORSO's age with dark, curly hair receding at the temples, is perched at the top of a spiral staircase. CORSO: What's his problem? BERNIE (replacing some books): He says you're a double-dealing, money grubbing bastard. He says he had that sale tied up, and now you've queered his pitch. CORSO (grins to himself): He should be quicker off the mark.

He smiles sweetly at the DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. The spiral staircase judders as BERNIE starts to descend. The OLD WOMAN continues to stare blankly at her reflection in the window. Behind her, the SON sidles up to CORSO, who indicates the volumes in question. SON: How much were you thinking of... CORSO goes over to a wall cupboard and opens it. An assortment of bottles and glasses come to light. CORSO (cont.): May I?

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BERNIE: Your valuation was way over the odds it's brought those people out In a rash. They're now asking twice what the books are worth. CORSO, still grinning, pours himself a slug of Scotch. BERNIE reaches the ground. BERNIE (cont.): He's talking about suing you. Well, let's face it: you screwed him. That's what it's called. CORSO: I know what it's called. BERNIE comes up close. BERNIE: He also says you snaffled the 'Don Qui ... He breaks off as CORSO produces the four volumes of the 'Quixote', bends over to examine them, whistles appreciatively. BERNIE: (cont.): The Ybarra 'Don Quixote', 1780, four volumes. Fantastic! (opens one) Sonofabitch, you're the best in the business. Definitely. CORSO: And the most expensive. (smiles slyly) That client of yours, the Swiss, is he still interested in this edition? BERNIE smiles back, then redirects his attention to the books. BERNIE: Sure, but Witkin will blow a fuse. I told him I had nothing to do with this operation. CORSO knocks back his Scotch in one. Extracting a crumpled cigarette from the pocket of his overcoat, he sticks it in his mouth and lights it. CORSO: Nothing except your ten percent.

BORIS BALKAN, standing at a state-of-the-art lecturer's desk, is a bulky, imposing figure of a man around 50 years old. His thick gray hair is slicked back to reveal a domed forehead. The eyes beneath it radiate keen intelligence through a pair of heavy hornrims. He speaks in a deep, slow, almost monotonous voice, but with great authority. BALKAN: Relevant information may be found in Antoine Martin del Rio's 'Disquisitionum Magicarum', Louvain 1599, and earlier, in 1580, in 'De la dmonomanle des sorciers' by the Frenchman, Jean Bodin... His eyes flicker in the direction of the door as CORSO enters. CORSO's entrance has also been noted by a GIRL in jeans and white sneakers: childlike face, short hair and green, feline eyes. He sits down in the same row, but on the other side of the aisle, settles himself in his chair and scans the AUDIENCE, most of whom are middle-aged and female. He gives the GIRL a cursory glance, then concentrates on BALKAN. BALKAN (cont.): Bodin was probably the first to attempt to establish a system - if the term system may be applied to the Middle Ages - for classifying the contemporary perceptions of evil. In Bodin we find one of the first definitions of the word 'witch'. I quote: (cocks his head for a better look at the text) 'A witch is a person who, though cognizant of the laws of God, endeavors to act through the medium of a pact with the Devil...' As BALKAN's lecture proceeds, CORSO's eyelids begin to droop. We PAN over the faces of the AUDIENCE (THE GIRL is still covertly observing CORSO). BALKAN's voice drones on, fades away. 9. BALKAN BUILDING: LECTURE ROOM INT/NIGHT CLOSE on CORSO fast asleep.

BERNIE: : Twenty. The Swiss is my client, remember. BALKAN (O.S.): I see you enjoyed my little talk, Mr. Corso. CORSO (shakes his head): No deal. BERNIE: Fifteen. (cynically) For my children's sake. CORSO: You don't have any. BERNIE: I'm still young. Give me time. CORSO: Did I snore? CORSO (expels a lungful of smoke, unmoved): Ten. BALKAN: Nice of you to ask. No, not that I noticed. Shall we go? 6. BALKAN BUILDING EXT/DUSK A taxi pulls up outside an opulent building downtown. CORSO gets out, dodges a persistent beggar, and enters. The sign above the entrance reads: 'BALKAN PUBLICATIONS'. 7. BALKAN BUILDING: LOBBY INT/DUSK CORSO nods to the SECURITY GUARD at the desk and makes hit way across the lobby to a door at the back. Beside it stands an easel-mounted announcement: 'Demons and Medieval Literature, by Boris Balkan, Ph.D.' It's adorned with a medieval engraving depicting an Inquisition torture scene. 8. BALKAN BUILDING: LECTURE ROOM INT/DUSK He gestures at the door with a cold and impassive air. CORSO gets to his feet. 10. BALKAN BUILDING: LOBBY INT/NIGHT BALKAN walks swiftly across the lobby to the elevators with CORSO at his heels. They leave behind a buzz of conversation from members of the AUDIENCE who are still discussing the lecture. BALKAN: Don't you sleep nights? CORSO: Like a baby. CORSO gives a start and opens his eyes. He takes a moment or two to focus on BALKAN, who's standing over him. Peering around through his steel-rimmed glasses, he sees that the lecture is over. The last of the AUDIENCE are filing out. We glimpse THE GIRL making her exit.

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BALKAN: Strange, I'd have bet a brace of Gutenberg Bibles you spend half the night with your eyes peeled. You're one of those lean, hungry, restless types that put thewind up Julius Caesar - men who'd stab their friends in the back... They reach the elevator. BALKAN presses a button and turns to CORSO, who yawns. BALKAN (cont.) Not, I suspect, that you have many friends, do you, Mr. Corso? Your kind seldom does. CORSO (calmly): Go to hell. BALKAN is unruffled by CORSO's discourtesy. The elevator doors open. He stands aside to let CORSO pass, then follows him in. 11. BALKAN BUILDING: ELEVATOR INT/NIGHT BALKAN punches a code number on the elevator's digital keyboard With a subdued hiss, the elevator starts to ascend. BALKAN: You're right, of course. Your friendships don't concern me in the least. Our relations have always been strictly commercial, isn't that so? There's no one more reliable than a man whose loyalty can be bought for hard cash. CORSO: Hey, Balkan, I came here to do some business, not shoot the breeze. You want to expound your personal philosophy, write another book. BALKAN: You don't like me, do you? CORSO (shrugs): I don't have to like you. You're a client, and you pay well. The elevator reaches its destination, the doors open. 12. BALKAN BUILDING: COLLECTION INT/NIGHT The elevator opens straight into a spacious room faced with black marble. The walls are bare save for a big, back-lighted photograph of a ruined castle overlooking a desolate valley. Two huge windows in the right-hand wall extend from floor to ceiling. Visible outside on the building's floodlit facade, gargoyles gaze out over the city with their monstrous heads propped on their claws. The centre of the room is occupied by a rectangular block of tinted glass resembling a big black monolith. Vaguely discernible through the glass are shelves filled with antique books in exquisite bindings. BALKAN leads CORSO over to the 'monolith' . He gestures at it proudly, soliciting admiration. BALKAN: Well? CORSO: Yup.

Hours. All my own rare editions have the same protagonist: the Devil. CORSO is impressed but does his best not to show it. CORSO: May I take a look? BALKAN: That's why I brought you here. He goes over to the 'monolith' and punches a keyboard on a control panel, gestures to CORSO to come closer. CORSO puts out his hand. Before he can touch the glass, it glides aside with a faint hum. He adjusts his glasses and glances at BALKAN, who looks on calmly. His eyes roam along the spines of the books. BALKAN comes and stands beside him. BALKAN (cont.): Beautiful, aren't they? That soft sheen, that superb gilding... Not to mention the centuries of wisdom they contain -- centuries of erudition, of delving Into the secrets of the Universe and the hearts of men... I know people who would kill for a collection like this. (CORSO shoots him a quick glance) The Ars Diavoli! You'll never see as many books on the subject anywhere else in the world. They're the rarest, the choicest editions in existence. It has taken me a lifetime to assemble them. Only the supreme masterpiece was missing. Come... He has accompanied CORSO on his tour of the collection. They come to the end of the 'monolith'. Gesturing to CORSO to follow him, BALKAN goes over to an ultramodern, brushed steel lectern standing beside one of the huge picture windows. As he approaches the lectern, CORSO briefly glimpses the sheer drop beyond the window, the twinkling lights of traffic passing in the street far below. Reposing on the lectern is a black book adorned with a gold pentagram. CORSO opens it at the title page, which displays the title in Latin and a pictorial engraving. CORSO (not looking at BALKAN) 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows... 12. BALKAN BUILDING: COLLECTION INT/NIGHT The elevator opens straight into a spacious room faced with black marble. The walls are bare save for a big, back-lighted photograph of a ruined castle overlooking a desolate valley. Two huge windows in the right-hand wall extend from floor to ceiling. Visible outside on the building's floodlit facade, gargoyles gaze out over the city with their monstrous heads propped on their claws. The centre of the room is occupied by a rectangular block of tinted glass resembling a big black monolith. Vaguely discernible through the glass are shelves filled with antique books in exquisite bindings. BALKAN leads CORSO over to the 'monolith' . He gestures at it proudly, soliciting admiration. BALKAN: Well?

BALKAN: You're privileged, Corso. Very few people have ever set foot in here. This Is my private collection. Some bibliophiles specialize in Gothic novels, others in Books of

CORSO: Yup.

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BALKAN: You're privileged, Corso. Very few people have ever set foot in here. This Is my private collection. Some bibliophiles specialize in Gothic novels, others in Books of Hours. All my own rare editions have the same protagonist: the Devil. CORSO is impressed but does his best not to show it. CORSO: May I take a look? BALKAN: That's why I brought you here. He goes over to the 'monolith' and punches a keyboard on a control panel, gestures to CORSO to come closer. CORSO puts out his hand. Before he can touch the glass, it glides aside with a faint hum. He adjusts his glasses and glances at BALKAN, who looks on calmly. His eyes roam along the spines of the books. BALKAN comes and stands beside him. BALKAN (cont.): Beautiful, aren't they? That soft sheen, that superb gilding... Not to mention the centuries of wisdom they contain -- centuries of erudition, of delving Into the secrets of the Universe and the hearts of men... I know people who would kill for a collection like this. (CORSO shoots him a quick glance) The Ars Diavoli! You'll never see as many books on the subject anywhere else in the world. They're the rarest, the choicest editions in existence. It has taken me a lifetime to assemble them. Only the supreme masterpiece was missing. Come... He has accompanied CORSO on his tour of the collection. They come to the end of the 'monolith'. Gesturing to CORSO to follow him, BALKAN goes over to an ultramodern, brushed steel lectern standing beside one of the huge picture windows. As he approaches the lectern, CORSO briefly glimpses the sheer drop beyond the window, the twinkling lights of traffic passing in the street far below. Reposing on the lectern is a black book adorned with a gold pentagram. CORSO opens it at the title page, which displays the title in Latin and a pictorial engraving. CORSO (not looking at BALKAN) 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows... BALKAN: You're familiar with it? CORSO: Sure. Venice, 1623. The author and printer was Aristide Torchia, burned by the Holy Inquisition, together with all his works. Only three copies survived. BALKAN One. CORSO: The catalogs list three copies surviving in private ownership: the Fargas, the Kessler, and the Telfer. BALKAN: True. You've done your homework, but you're wrong nonetheless. According to all the sources I myself have consulted, only one is authentic. The author confessed under torture that he'd hidden one copy. Only one. CORSO: Well, three are known. BALKAN: That's the trouble. CORSO resumes his inspection of the book.

Speech Skills Lesson 4

Speech Skill: Pace

The Speech Problem Speaking too quickly is one of the most common speech problems perhaps because almost all of us tend to speed up our speech when were stressed or excited. And when are we not stressed when were working? Making a cold call, meeting a new contact, working on a project with a deadline all of these situations are stressful and cause all kinds of physiological responses, including speeding up our speech. Some people, however, are genuine motormouths people who always speak rapidly. Speaking too slowly is much less common, but believe it or not, there are people who tend to speak naturally with a rate of speed that leaves gaps between words and drawls out syllables to extremes. The trick to speaking at an appropriate pace is remembering that you need to speak at a rate that allows your listener to understand what youre saying. Listening is not a one-step process; we have to physically hear what is said and then translate language into meaning. If we speak too quickly, this vital second step of the process is lost. Like expression, the natural rate at which you speak is part of your speech signature. The problem with speaking at a pace thats either too fast or too slow is that it interferes with communication. When you speak too quickly, you literally blow away your listener. He cant mentally keep up with you and will quickly stop trying. While a small part of your message may get through, most wont. When you speak too slowly, your listener has too much time for processing, and the mind either locks on how irritatingly slowly youre speaking or wanders off to more interesting things. If you hear phrases such as Could you repeat that? often, or often encounter glazed looks, youre probably a person who usually speaks too quickly or too slowly. Slowing Your Speech Down Focusing on our enunciation when we speak is one good way to slow down our speech. When we focus on enunciating clearly, (as you did in Speech Lesson 1), we 13

force ourselves to stop slurring and eliding syllables when we speak. Another way to slow down our speech is to concentrate on phrasing. Oral speech, just like written speech, is composed of phrases and sentences. In fact, the punctuation of written speech is simply a set of sign posts to tell us how the written information should be phrased. For instance, when I wrote: If you hear phrases such as Could you repeat that? often, or often encounter glazed looks, youre probably a person who usually speaks too quickly or too slowly, the punctuation dictates that when you read or say this sentence, you are going to pause briefly after the question mark, pause again after the word often because of the comma, and again after looks. The sentence should be read the same way, whether you read it silently or read it out loud. But people who speak too quickly tend to ignore phrasing entirely. They dont pause for commas, hyphens, question marks or even periods, jamming all the phrases together. Therefore, concentrating on the phrasing can really help slow down speedy speakers. Speech Exercise 1: Practicing Phrasing Go back to the start of this speech lesson and read it out loud, using the punctuation to guide your phrasing. Think of a period or semi-colon as a pause twice as long as a comma. Speech Exercise 2 : Five Step How-Tos Because the pace of speech and comprehension are so closely linked, this exercise focuses on speaking at the optimum pace for making your message understood. You will need a partner to work through this speech exercise. His or her task is to comprehend what youre saying and give you feedback about your speech pace. As the speaker, your task is to tell him or her how to do something in five steps. You may jot down the five steps youre going to use as speaking points on a piece of paper before you begin, if you wish. Speech Topics:

1. How to perfectly boil an egg 2. How to plant a tree 3. How to send an email 4. How to handle a customer complaint 5. How to send a fax 6. How to evaluate an employee 7. How to replace a printer cartridge 8. How to impress a client 9. How to give a good speech 10. How to make the perfect cup of coffee or tea When youve finished speaking, ask your partner to repeat the five steps you spoke of. Did he or she get all of them? If not, why? Did you speak too quickly or too slowly or was there some other speech problem that interfered with communication? Rerun the exercise with a different topic as many times as you like.

The Benefits of Improving Your Speech Pace When you speak at an appropriate pace, your listeners will:

Be more interested in what youre saying and more attentive; Be more likely to comprehend the message youre communicating.

Speech Lesson 4 Homework Assignment Set aside a minimum of 15 minutes a day this week to work on your voice pace. Once youve worked through the exercises on and linked to this page, I want you to continue your oral reading program throughout the week. Fiction or nonfiction will work, as long as the piece is properly punctuated. As you read out loud, concentrate on your enunciation and following the phrasing as directed by the punctuation. Those of you who enjoy a challenge will benefit from dipping into some literary classics, such as novels by Austen, Hardy, Dickens and Thackeray. The sentence structure will provide a great phrasing workout. The next step is much harder, but I want you to start working on it right away, too. Start visualizing the punctuation before you speak. Whether youre on the phone or talking to someone in person, before you say 14

what youre going to say, see the sentences, complete with their periods and commas, and then say it. If you can master this, the pace at which you speak will slow down considerably even if youre stressed. And once again, tell your speech monitor what speech skill youre working on this week, and get him or her to warn you when youre speaking too quickly or too slowly. In the next speech lesson, youll be taking a look at buzzwords and slang and how they can destroy communication.

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Speech Skills Lesson 5

Buzzwords and Slang Bury Your Message Speech Skill: Clarity The Speech Problem We live in a world littered with acronyms, buzzwords and slang. Right now, for instance, Im tired of people leveraging everything all over the place. A friend recently told me that shed leveraged her portfolio. I thought she was talking about stocks, but she meant that she had a job interview. This was just a personal, minor misunderstanding. But acronyms, buzzwords and slang can cause misunderstandings that cost time and money when were trying to do business. As business people and professionals, we need to be sure that were speaking the right language to the right people at the right time. Both slang and buzzwords are types of informal, trendy language; both obscure meaning. Slang is informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions; often vituperative or vulgar or the characteristic language of a particular group (HyperDictionary). So on the one hand, your listener may not understand whats said because he isnt a member of the selective group that knows that lingo; on the other, he may understand it very well but be offended by it. Another problem with using slang to attempt to communicate is that many of us tend to get trapped in slang time warps. Unless you live in a house with teenagers or are currently attending a post-secondary educational institute, the slang youre trying to use is probably hopelessly out of date. (Remember the phrase, far out? Or lame? If you do, dont admit it to anyone!) Buzzwords are stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition (HyperDictionary), or, if you prefer, important-sounding words or phrases used primarily to impress laypersons (BuzzWhack.com). Currently, for example, every business under the sun is including the word solutions in their marketing copy and conversations, to the point that the word is just a meaningless filler. Speech Exercise 1: Business Buzzwords To Avoid The easy part of the exercise: read this list of business buzzwords. The hard part of the exercise: strip these meaningless buzzwords from your speech (and from your thinking). Actionable Actualize Best practice Conceptualize Cash-neutral

Cost-centered Customer-centered Customer-directed Empowered Empowerment Game plan Heads-up Intellectual capital Knowledge management Leverage Low-hanging fruit Market segment Mission critical Mission statement Operationalize Outside the box Paradigm shift Positioning Push the envelope Ramp up Resource constrained Risk management Smartsize Solution Strategic fit Strategic alliance Synergize Touch base Value-added Vision statement Win-Win

Shorthand Can Shortchange Your Listeners Acronyms are abbreviations formed from the first letters of each word of a phrase that are sometimes used as words in themselves. Theyre popular because basically were a lazy bunch and using a set of initials rather than writing or saying several words saves effort. Some common ones are: ASP - Application Service Provider B2B - Business to Business BAU - Business As Usual BAFO - Best And Final Offer RFP - Request for Proposal ROI - Return on Investment

What works as shorthand in the office doesnt necessarily translate when youre speaking with customers or clients. Perfectly appropriate acronyms you use in-house may just be gobbledygook to clients. Im not saying that acronyms should never be used; just that you should use them selectively. To make it easier on yourself, set up and follow a rule never to use acronyms when communicating with customers and/or clients, no matter what form the communication takes. Clarity is worth the price of convenience. Speech Exercise 2: Adding Acronyms

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Return to the list of acronyms above and add at least five different acronyms preferably ones that you are in the habit of using. As the purpose of this exercise is to start focusing on the acronyms in your speech, you may find it easier to add to the list throughout the week as acronyms crop up when youre communicating. The Benefits of Cutting Slang, Buzzwords and Acronyms When you cut these from your speech, your listeners will: Be less likely to feel alienated or offended; Be more likely to comprehend the message youre communicating.

1. blamestorming: A group process where participants analyze a failed project and look for scapegoats other than themselves. 2. Death by Tweakage: When a product or project fails due to unnecessary tinkering or too many last-minute revisions. 3. BMWs: Bitchers, Moaners and Whiners. 4. clockroaches: Employees who spend most of their day watching the clock - instead of doing their jobs 5. plutoed: To be unceremoniously dumped or relegated to a lower position without an adequate reason or explanation. 6. prairie dogging: A modern office phenomenon. Occurs when workers simultaneously pop their heads up out of their cubicles to see what's going on. 7. carbon-based error: Error caused by a human, not a computer (which we assume would be a silicon-based error). 8. menoporsche: Male menopause. Symptoms include a sudden lack of energy, crankiness and the overpowering urge to buy a Porsche. 9. adminisphere: The upper levels of management where big, impractical, and counterproductive decisions are made. 10. deja poo: The feeling that you've stepped in this bull before. 11. bobbleheading: The mass nod of agreement by participants in a meeting to comments made by the boss even though most have no idea what he/she just said. 12. ringtone rage: The violent response by cube mates after hearing your annoying cell phone ringtone for the 15th time. 13. muffin top: The unsightly roll of flesh that spills over the waist of a pair of too-tight

Speech Lesson 5 Homework Assignment First, complete the exercises on this page. Just by doing this, youll become more aware of the kind of empty, informal language that you want to eliminate from your speech. To help you cut slang, buzzwords and acronyms from your speech, I want you to keep a Speech Diary. Each day, as you communicate with others, be aware of what youre saying and write down any instances of slang, buzzwords, or acronyms that you use. If you do this conscientiously, by the end of the week, two things will happen; youll have a list of the empty language that you personally use, and the number of times you use particular instances of the slang, buzzwords and acronyms that are weakening your communication will decrease. Enlist the aid of your speech monitor again this week, asking him or her to tell you whenever you use slang, buzzwords or acronyms instead of real, meaningful words. And just for fun, if youre curious about what new buzzwords are being bandied about, or hear one that you dont know the meaning of, BuzzWhack.com has an ever-growing buzzword-compliant dictionary, offering definitions of everything from alpha pups through zombience.

13 Most Dreadful Buzzwords of 2006

"While we're leveraging our assets, can you synopsize the missioncritical meeting, then relanguage it by the targeted completion date?" Those five buzzwords are among the 13 Most Dreadful Buzzwords of 2006 as selected by the readers of BuzzWhack.com, home of The Buzzword Dictionary: 1,000 Phrases Translated From Pompous to English. "Some business people simply believe that if they sound important, then everyone will think they are important, and therefore smarter," says John Walston, author of The Buzzword Dictionary and creator of BuzzWhack.com. "Among the guilty: vice president wannabes, consultants, techies, and lawyers. "But they're fooling no one but themselves. "The rest of us know that you can communicate almost any idea clearly with plain, straightforward English," Walston says.

13 Most Fun Buzzwords of 2006

Ever done any blamestorming? How about prairie-dogging? Do you work with any BMWs? Or has your career been plutoed? Those four buzzwords are among the 13 Most Fun Buzzwords of 2006 as selected by the readers of BuzzWhack.com, home of The Buzzword Dictionary: 1,000 Phrases Translated From Pompous to English, (Marion Street Press). "Not all buzzwords make you cringe. Some are delightfully colorful, funny and sum up life in today's workplace," says John Walston, author of The Buzzword Dictionary and creator of BuzzWhack.com. "And given the way the world's been going lately, we definitely need something to laugh about." Here's the complete list:

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Here's the complete list: 1. leveraging our assets: The ultimate DUH in business. Every company attempts to leverage its assets. It only makes sense that companies put their resources, whether it's money, location or talent, to best use in order to make a profit? 2. mission-critical: Another sign that too many people in today's business world have read too many Tom Clancy books. What's wrong with the word "essential"? 3. conversate: To have a conversation. Created by those who (for some bizarre reason) don't think "converse" or "talk" are adequate. 4. information touchpoint: Any contact in which information is shared or transferred. Yes, meetings are information touchpoints. 5. synopsize: To condense the details of a boring, two-hour meeting into a briefer - yet still as boring - version. 6. electronify: The process of turning paper-based data into electronic or digital form. 7. price-optimized: Something sold as cheap as possible, particularly a stripped-down version of a previously successful, but expensive product. However, the priceoptimized version is likely to have more flash and less substance. 8. targeted completion date: A comforting term that gives the impression a project will be finished by a certain date (but everyone involved knows there's no chance in hell of it happening). 9. surgerize: To have surgery. "Her face had been surgerized." 10. relanguage: Term used by $300-an-hour consultants when $1 words, such as reword, rephrase or rewrite, would work just as well. "I think we can relanguage that to be more effective." 11. computerate: Computer literate. To understand how a computer works. "Are you computerate? Or do you need me to do it for you?" 12. critical path: A list of tasks necessary to complete a project. In project management, it's the ultimate alibi. If there's even one delay in the "critical path," the project will not be completed on time. 13. Professional Learning Community: A school faculty.

aquadextrous: The ability to turn the bath faucet on and off with your feet. Nominated by Jamie Thompson pet parent: Feel-good term for pet owners that supposedly elevates the relationship between them and their animals to a higher level. (Subtle reminder for "pet parents": The law doesn't require you to have a license to have children, but you do have to have one for your dog. Nominated by Randall Becker Hummer house: A huge and architecturally inappropriate house built in an existing neighborhood destroying the aesthetic integrity of said neighborhood Nominated by James Heron newpeat: The showing of a previously aired TV episode that is now considered "new" because it has additional scenes or is simply two episodes edited into single longer episode. Example: "Did you see the 'Heroes' newpeat last night?" Nominated by Aunt Shecky WYGIWYG: What You Get Is What You Get or What You Got Is What You Get. A take-off on WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get Nominated by Mark Spencer locked tool box: When a company has the right tools, systems, computers, etc., but lacks skilled employees that can put them to good use. Nominated by Thom Hines CFNO: A CFO (Chief Financial Officer) whose answer always seems to be "No" no matter how large or small the purchase request. Nominated by Tommy Lutz kleptonarcissist: Someone so vain that he/she compulsively steals glances of himself/herself in any nearby reflective surface - mirrors, polished cars, etc. Nominated by Zac Babb Jet Blued: To spend more time sitting on the runway than in the air. "I got Jet Blued this weekend." Nominated by Vicky Austin murfing: This one has several meanings. The most recent usage to surface means "mobile surfing" or surfing the Web using mobile phone, etc. An older usage is "mindless surfing." Then there are those musicians who use Bob Moog's MuRF device to give them new sound effects. Nominated by Vatroslav Skare EFIGS: English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. The mnemonic is often an option in computer games, indicating you can play in any of these languages. Nominated by Tatiana Solomko literatisement: An advertising product placement embedded in books, short stories, etc. Just like they do in TV. So beware the next time your books hero is driving a Lexus, the author may be on Lexus payroll. Ah, the plot thickens. Nominated by Michael Donnelly

Recent Buzzwords

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shoot ahead of the duck: Think ahead. Plan. You have to aim where you think the duck will be, not where it is when you pull the trigger. Nominated by Max Matthews mandals: Sandals worn by men frequently with socks. Nominated by David Taylor yuppie food stamps: The $20 bills that everyone gets from ATMs. They become an issue when a group goes out to eat and it comes time to pay. Each person owes $11 and no one has anything smaller than a $20 bill. Nominated by Angela Smith DWT: Driving While Texting. It's become a such a concern that the Arizona State Legislature is considering a bill to make it illegal. Nominated by Evans Neil surge space: The extra space required (which usually doesnt exist) to temporarily house people, desks, inventory, etc., while you renovate or expand your offices. Nominated by John Mielke Fake Bake: The brand name a for sunless tanning solution that comes in lotion, spray, mousse and lip gloss (no kidding). In its lower case form, its also another name for indoor tanning salons. Nominated by Scott Haddon slabs of meet: A cluster of big, wannabe athletes that gather around giant plasma TVs to watch sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, etc. In honor of the "slabs of meet" typo in last week's definition of "mancation." Nominated by Dave Perkins for his friend Gord Pushee who first defined the term prosumer: An amateur who has the knowledge and expertise (or at least thinks he does) that requires him to buy professional level equipment instead of whats sold to most consumers. Also, a common term to describe consumer equipment thats a notch below professional grade (think digital camcorders). Nominated by Casey Neese mancation: A mans vacation. Generally includes lots of beer, a Weber grill, slabs of meat for cooking and a sack of fireworks. Nominated by D.C. Cottrell vertical trailers: Mass-produced townhouses. Nominated by Sandra Kraybill YUM-O! When saying "yum" or "yummy" isn't enough. Coined by cooking and talk show host Rachael Ray. The accent is on the "O" as in, "Oh! That is so good!" Nominated by Erin Pratt voodoo statistics: To twist statistical information to make bad data seem good. Example: In a race between two cars, the loser reports that he finished second and his opponent finished next to last. Nominated by Britt Canada

Mahogany Row: A building or suite of offices housing C-level executives. Their desks are made of expensive wood, while the rest of us poor slobs work in gray cubicles with Formica-topped desks. Also known as the C-suite. Nominated by Holly Herman firewall account: A small balance bank account primarily used for online purchases. That way if the account information is stolen, theres very little for bad guys to take. Nominated by Tom Inglesby DIYD or (DIYD)2: Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. Pronounced DIYD squared. Nominated by Nancy Harrity Other Buzzwords (from http://www.investopedia.com/categories/buzzwords.asp) A Ton Of Money: A slang term used to describe a significant amount of money. The amount implied typically depends on the person, company or situation. We may all have a different idea of what constitutes a "ton of money", but according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a ton of $1 bills amounts to $908,000 - nearly $1 million! If you're talking about a ton of coins, then it's a different story - a ton of quarters is worth $40,000, and one ton of pennies (363,000 pennies to be exact) is worth $3,630. Fat Cat: A slang word used to describe executives who earn what many believe to be unreasonably high salaries and bonuses. These top executives also receive generous pensions and retirement packages, consisting of extra compensation not available to other company employees. A real-life example of a fat cat would be former Disney CEO, Michael Eisner. For a period of five years in the late 1990s, Eisner received over $737 million in compensation, despite the fact that the company's five-year net income shrank an average of 3.1% each year. Gold Bug: A person who is bullish on gold. Gold bugs believe that gold is still a stable source of wealth like it was during the years of the gold standard international currency system. A gold bug invests in gold for (what they perceive) as financial security in the event of a currency devaluation, and often also believe that the price of gold will continue to rise in the future. The term also refers to analysts who consistently recommend gold buys. Gold bugs view gold as a safe investment that will protect them from currency fluctuations or downturns in the financial markets. Although gold is widely known as a standard of value, its price - like that of any other precious metal or commodity fluctuates widely. For example, the price of gold declined from more than $800/oz in the 1980s to less than $350/oz in the 1990s. This is a point frequently brought up by critics, who view gold as a standard of wealth from the past. Affluenza: A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "Keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that prides financial success as one of the highest pursuits to be achieved. People said to be affected by affluenza typically find that the very economic success they have been so vigorously chasing ends up leaving them feeling unfulfilled, and wishing for yet more wealth - sometimes addicted to their economic pursuits.

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Affluenza is arguably present in the United States, where the culture is one that prides itself on possessions and financial success. Mainstream media outlets, such as television broadcasts, tend to show how pervasive the idea has become. Affluenza also tends to bring with it very high social costs and strains already diminishing environmental and natural resources. While affluenza cannot be quantified easily, those wishing to avoid the condition should look to be the master of, not the slave to, the things they have or wish to obtain. Aspirin Count Theory: A market theory that states stock prices and aspirin production are inversely (opposite) related. The belief is that as stock prices fall, more and more people need pain relievers to get through the day. Big Uglies: Old industrial companies in gritty industries (such as mining, steel and oil) and as a result, they tend to be unpopular stocks with investors. While big uglies are not as sexy as tech stocks, they do provide solid long-term earnings, growth and dividends. They are often overlooked by investors seeking fast profits, but not by value investors looking for bargain-priced stocks with a low price-to-earnings ratio. On the other hand, when markets tumble, the bulletproof earnings of the big uglies attract investors of all types. Black Knight: A company that makes a hostile takeover offer on a target company. An allusion to the fairytale villains, this term demonstrates how a targeted company sees its adversary. Fairytale black knights are associated with kidnapping princesses, slaying peasants, burning villages, and generally having unpleasant personalities. Bo Derek: A slang term used to describe a perfect stock or investment. In the 1979 hit movie "10", actress Bo Derek portrayed the "perfect woman", or "the perfect 10". This term was used more often in the early 1980s, after the movie "10" first came out. Nowadays, the name of a more current celebrity, like Jennifer Lopez, might be used in finance jargon. Cats and Dogs: A slang term referring to speculative stocks that have short or suspicious histories for sales, earnings, dividends, etc. In a bull market analysts will often mention that everything is going up, even the cats and dogs. Dually Employed With Kids DEWKS: A household in which there are children and both partners earn an income. DEWKS families are marketing targets for toys, children's clothes and other goods and services that pertain to children. Contrast this with "DINKS": Informal. either partner of a married couple having two incomes and no children. Dog Eat Dog: hen the market for a good or service is ruthlessly competitive.

Electronics retail is often thought to be a dog eat dog market. Blockbuster sales every weekend, bashing competitor products, and "lowest price guaranteed" tactics are characteristics of dog eat dog competition. Jennifer Lopez - J.Lo: A slang technical analysis term referring to a rounding bottom in a stock's price pattern. Traders like the rounding bottom in a stock pattern because it can be an indication of a positive market reversal, meaning expectations are gradually shifting from bearish to bullish. For those unaware, Ms. Lopez is often criticized (or praised) for her round bottom. Other sites: http://www.buzzwordhell.com/ http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/buzz/buzzwords/ http://ninemsn.buzzword.com.au/ninemsn/webapps/beekeeper? vm=bz_homepage.vm

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Speech Skills Lesson 6

Speech Skill: Listening

your arms should be held loosely at your sides. If youre sitting, place your hands in your lap or loosely along each arm of the chair. Whether standing or sitting, do not cross your arms, which sends out a negative message. If youre sitting, your legs should also be uncrossed. Lean slightly towards the speaker. You want your body language to send the message that you are receptive to the speakers message. 2) Appropriate Advancement As the speaker speaks, make appropriate comments that advance the conversation. Just saying um or ah here and there wont do it. You need to show the speaker that youre actively listening to what hes saying by making statements or asking questions that show that youve been paying attention. Like the next technique, summarizing, this active listening technique works well in both face-to-face and communication situations where the speaker cant see you. 3) Summarizing This is a particularly powerful technique for showing the speaker youve been paying attention whether youre in a face-to-face situation or listening over the phone. You can use it during conversation by saying something such as, You were saying that... and simply restating the speakers last point. Its most powerful use is at the end of the conversation, when its officially your turn to respond. Start by saying, You said that... and then summarize the speakers key points, closing by adding an action statement, something you will do as a result of what the speaker has said. For example, You said that you dont feel that Ive been listening to you because I keep facing my computer screen when youre talking, and dont seem to have anything to add to the conversation. From now on, Ill give you my full attention when you speak to me. Speech Exercise: Practice Active Listening You will need a partner for this exercise. Return to the list of topics we used for the Tell-Me Game in Speech Lesson 2. This time, you are going to be the listener instead of the speaker. Have your partner choose one of the speech topics and speak impromptu for two minutes. Your task is to be an active listener, and apply the three active listening techniques above. (Dont forget to set the stage properly!) Perform this exercise at least three times, using different speech topics and working up to a speech time of three minutes. 21

The Speech Problem Assuming that you truly want to communicate with others, listening is the most important speech skill of all. Unfortunately, its also the speech skill that is practiced the least. Remember the joke about the psychiatrist? There he is, in his office, with a patient on the couch. While the patient pours his heart out, the psychiatrist is thinking about his upcoming dinner. Thats the way it is with most of us, much of the time. Were thinking about other things instead of listening to whoever is speaking to us. Theres a grain of truth to the adage, in one ear and out the other, except that often the information doesnt even enter the one ear in the first place. It will sound strange to refer to this as a sloppy speech habit, but it is. Were wired to listen; we just dont bother doing it all the time. Because we can get away with it. Most of the time, the speaker wont know were not listening. As long as we continue to face him, keep a suitable expression on our face, and dont do something blatant such as belt out a show tune, how will he know that were actually somewhere else entirely? He wont. But you do. And youre the one that has to make a commitment to truly listening. In other words, I want you to become an active listener. To listen actively, you need to change from being a passive target to being a contributor to the communication. Make this one change, and youll improve your communication skills a thousand fold. Three Techniques For Active Listening 1) Setting The Stage For Listening Stop whatever else you are doing. Turn to face the speaker and make eye contact. If youre standing,

The Benefits of Active Listening When you listen actively, people communicating with you will:

Feel more confident that theyve actually communicated a message to you. Feel more positive about you and the message youre communicating.

Speech Lesson 6 Homework Assignment After youve practiced the exercise on this page, you need to continue practice being an active listener. Concentrate on this speech skill this week by trying to apply the three techniques of active listening to every conversation you have. Set up a session with your Speech Monitor or with the partner that you first did your Active Listening practice with for the end of the week and go through the Active Listening exercise on this page one more time. Ask him or her to evaluate how you are performing each of the three active listening techniques explained in this lesson.

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Speech Skills Lesson 7

Speech Course Wrap Up Youve now worked through six lessons designed to shape up your speech. If Ive succeeded in my goal for this course, youre now able to speak more confidently and better able to communicate with your listeners - and this improved ability to communicate is already translating into more success for you in your business, job or profession. However, you know how easy it is to fall back into sloppy speech habits. We have a lot of things going on, and other things to pay attention to. If you need or want to go back and review a particular speech problem, this list of skills covered by each speech lesson will help you find the speech problem you want to go back and work on. Lesson 1 - Stop Dropping Your Gs; Enunciation Matters (Speech Skill: Clarity) Lesson 2 Axe Those Fillers (Speech Skill: Clarity) Lesson 3 Enthusiasm and Monotones Dont Mix (Speech Skill: Expression) Lesson 4 Motormouths Dont Make Sales (Speech Skill: Pace) Lesson 5 Buzzwords and Slang Bury Your Message (Speech Skill: Clarity) Lesson 6 Active Listening Is The Most Important Thing You Say (Speech Skill: Listening)

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Course Self-Evaluation
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________ For each of the following speech skills listed in the table below, rate your proficiency, using the following scale: 1 extremely poor 2 below satisfactory 3- satisfactory 4 good 5 excellent. Finish this sentence: I feel that I have made the best progress on the speech skill of _______________________________. And this one: The speech skill I still most need to work on is _______________________________. Think back over the course and use the self-evaluation chart in the linked exercise to evaluate your progress.
Enunciation 1 2 3 4 5

Lack of Acronyms

Active Listening

Lack of Fillers

Expression

Pace

Lack of Slang

Lack of Buzzwords

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