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Using Language to light the way
Author : Robert Green DTM
Date : 03-06-2005
Have you ever sat through a presentation that was a exciting as filling in
a tax return? There are many ways to add colour to a speech, to engage
your audience, to capture and maintain their interest. In a speech, words
can be weapons; they can be used to drive your point home or let your
audience loose to wander mentally down the garden path.
While there are many word tools that can be used, they include the
following:
Repetition: A powerful way to impress your key points of your
messages to repeat your message in an interesting way. For example, "We
will never, never, never stop working towards a better future", another
example is to use three similar words to convey the message, such as in a
speech calling for a commitment to learning "We must value schools, we
must value college, we must value learning".
Adjectives: The use of adjectives and adverbs can add colour and
interest to a point you are trying to convey. Compare "The brown house" to
"The home painted the colour of freshly turned earth". Using the
additional words allows your audience to see with their mind the image you
are trying to portray.
Alliteration: The use of several words, starting with the same
letter adds interest to your presentation. “Larger than life, longer than
lines at the Laundromat.”
Rhyme: Using phrases with a final word with the same sound can also
add to the impact to the presentation. An example of this might be
"Rumours through the office spread around, yet those being discussed heard
not a sound, until the story was suddenly found, at which point the
victims went to ground". Caution should however be exercised to ensure
that this is not overused. It is interesting to add impact to a section of
a speech, however it does lose its effectiveness if overused.
Many other tools can also be used to add power to your language. The best
ways to learn how to make your language lively are:
Observation: Look at speakers whose presentation and composition
you admire and analyse the word techniques they use.
Practice: By experimenting with different techniques, and gaining
honest and constructive feedback, you will broaden your comfort base in
working with words as weapons.
Be brave, be bold, and be brilliant with your words.
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