Being a GRAMMARIAN (a.k.a. “Ah” Counter) at a Coronado Toastmasters meeting is truly an exercise in expanding your listening skills. You have just three, basic responsibilities:

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1. TO INTRODUCE NEW WORDS TO THE MEMBERS

Select a Word-of-the-Day. It should be a word that will help the members increase their vocabularies - a word that can be incorporated into everyday conversation - a word that expands the members’ abilities to express themselves. You can find yours from our homepage link, Webster's Word of the Day

When introduced prior to TABLE TOPICS, announce the Word-of-the-Day, spell it, state its part of speech (noun, verb, etc.), define it, use it in a sentence, and request that everyone use it in a meeting, not just during the TOPICS session. A “visual aid” showing the word is helpful; make sure it is large enough to be seen by all.

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2. EVALUATE THE SPEAKERS’ GRAMMAR DURING THE MEETING

Throughout the Toastmasters meeting, listen to everyone’s word usage. Note any awkward use or misuse of the language (incomplete sentences, mispronunciations, incorrect grammar, malapropisms, etc.). Also, listen for outstanding word usage. Note who uses the Word-of-the-Day and how it is used - correctly or incorrectly.

When called upon by the Toastmaster during the Evaluation segment, give a report based on the things you noted - improper and outstanding usage. This should be done in good humor - and can be very helpful to all members.

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3. HELP THE MEMBERS ELIMINATE THE “PAUSE FILLERS”

Audible pauses (uh, er, ah, you-know, like, okay, um, etc.) are the most noticeable, most-distracting, most commonly used and MOST EASILY CORRECTED speech contaminants in existence today. Consider the following example:

- OKAY, four score and UH seven years ago YOU-KNOW

- our forefathers brought forth upon AH this country

- a LIKE new nation, conceived in ER liberty and

- dedicated to ... WELL, YOU-KNOW!

These audible pauses contribute nothing; they are crutches used to avoid the discipline of continuity. They provide an opportunity to stall and do some thought-collecting; they are a habit which should be eliminated from our speech. But a speaker must first be made aware of this problem before he can hope to eliminate it. How can you, as GRAMMARIAN/ AH-COUNTER, help the speaker become aware of this use of audible pauses?

Sometimes “AH-COUNTERS” keep a record of the offenses as they listen to speakers and include this information in the evaluation segment. Others use a noise-maker (dropping a coin into a tin can, squeaky toy, etc.) to quickly alert the speaker that he used a “pause-filler”. The noise-maker must be used with sensitivity - not to distract or used to excess - but it can be a most effective way to help speakers eliminate this objectionable habit. As a member of Coronado Toastmasters, you are encouraged to consider the needs of the speaker first, regardless of your supporting meeting role. So, you may first want to check with each speaker and ask if he wants your help in this regard.