8.

Avoiding Languange Pitfalls

There are other aspects of language you should consider when thinking about how language
choices impact the audience’s perception of you.
1. Profanity,
It seems obvious, but this fact bears repeating—you should refrain from using
profanity in your speeches. One of the primary rules of all aspects of public speaking
(audience analysis, delivery, topic selection, etc.) is that you should never ignore
audience expectations. Audiences do not expect speakers to use profane language, and
in most cases, doing so will hurt your credibility with the audience. It is true that certain
audiences will not mind an occasional profane word used for effect, but unless you are
speaking to a group of people with whom you are very familiar, it is difficult to know
for sure whether the majority of the audience will respond positively or negatively to
such language use. If you even offend one person in an audience and that person
happens to be an opinion leader for other audience members, the negative impact of
your language on that one person could end up having a much larger influence on the
audience’s perception of you.
2. Exaggeration
Speakers should also be careful about exaggeration. Hyperbole is the use of moderate
exaggeration for effect and is an acceptable and useful language strategy. What is not
acceptable, however, is the use of exaggeration to an extent that you risk losing
credibility. For example, while it is acceptable to note that “it snows in South Texas as
often as pigs fly,” it would not be acceptable to state that “It never snows in South
Texas.” In the first case, you are using hyperbole as a form of exaggeration meant to
creatively communicate an idea. In the second case, your use of exaggeration is stating
something that is not true. It is unwise to use words such as “never” and “always” when
speaking. It may be the case that speakers make this mistake accidentally because they
are not careful with regard to word choice. We so easily throw words like “always” and
“never” around in everyday conversation that this tendency transfers onto our public
speeches when we are not thinking carefully about word choice.There are two problems
with the careless use of exaggeration.
 First, when you use words like “always” and “never,” it is not likely that the
statement you are making is true—as very few things always or never happen.
Therefore, audiences might mistake your careless use of language for an attempt
to purposefully misrepresent the truth.
 Second, when you suggest that something “always” or “never” happens, you are
explicitly challenging your audience members to offer up evidence that
contradicts your statement. Such a challenge may serve to impact your
credibility negatively with the audience, as an audience member can make you
look careless and/or silly by pointing out that your “always” or “never”
statement is incorrect.
3. Powerless Languange
Finally, think about using powerful language when speaking. Because women are
more likely than men to be socialized to take the feelings of others into account, women
tend to use less powerful language than men. Both men and women, however, can use
language that communicates a lack of power. In some cases speakers use powerless
 language that communicates uncertainty. For example, a speaker might say “It seems to
me that things are getting worse,” or “In my estimation, things are getting worse.” These
phrases communicate a lack of certainty in your statements. It is likely that in the case of
these speeches, the speaker is arguing that some problem is getting worse, therefore
more powerful language would be acceptable. Simply state that “Things are getting
worse” and don’t weaken your statement with phrases that communicate uncertainty.
Speakers should also beware of hedges, tag questions, and qualifiers. Examples of
hedges would include, “I thought we should,” “I sort of think,” or “Maybe we should.”
Use more powerful statements such as “We should” or “I believe.” In addition, speakers
should avoid the use of tag questions, which are quick questions at the end of a
statement that also communicate uncertainty. People who use tag questions might end a
statement with “Don’t you think?” or “Don’t you agree?” rather than flatly stating what
they believe because it can appear to audiences that you are seeking validation for your
statements. Qualifiers such as “around” or “about” make your sentences less definitive,
so generally avoid using them.
4. Incorrect Grammar
While the use of sexist or heterosexist language may imply some negative qualities
about you to your audience, the use of incorrect grammar in your speech will explicitly
communicate negative attributes about you quite clearly. There are four primary means
by which incorrect grammar tends to make its way into speeches, including basic error,
mispronunciations, regionalisms, and colloquialisms.Basic errors occur when people
make simple mistakes in grammar because of carelessness or a lack of knowledge. If
you are unsure about the grammatical structure of a sentence, ask someone.
5. Other Language Choices to Consider
Clichés are phrases or expressions that, because of overuse, have lost their rhetorical
power. Examples include sayings such as “The early bird gets the worm” or “Making a
mountain out of a molehill.” Phrases such as these were once powerful ways of
communicating an idea, but because of overuse these phrases just don’t have the impact
that they once had. Using clichés in your speeches runs the risk of having two negative
attributions being placed on you by audience members. First, audience members may
feel that your use of a cliché communicates that you didn’t take the speech seriously
and/or were lazy in constructing it. Second, your audience members may perceive you
as someone who is not terribly creative. Clichés area easy ways to communicate your
message, but you might pay for that ease with negative feelings about you as a speaker
from your audience. Try to avoid using clichés so that audiences are more likely to
perceive you positively as a speaker.Another consideration for speakers is whether or
not to use language central to the popular culture of a time period. Whether we’re
talking about “groovy, man” from the 1970s or “like totally awesome” from the 1980s,
or “word to your mutha” from the 1990s, the language central to the popular culture of
any time period is generally something to be avoided in formal public speaking. Like
slang or profanity, language stemming from popular culture can be limited in its appeal.
Some audiences may not understand it, some audiences may negatively evaluate you for
using language that is too informal, and other audiences will have negative preconceived
notions about “the kind of people” that use such language (e.g., “hippies” in the 1970s),
and they will most likely transfer those negative evaluations onto you.
9. Using Languange Accurately
Using language accurately is as vital to a speaker as :
 Speakers need to be sensitive to the shades of meaning of different words.
 Speakers should not use a word unless they are confident of its meaning.
 Speakers who have serious aspirations should develop a systematic plan for
improving their vocabulary.
Good speakers respect language and how it works. Words are vital to thinking itself.
Thought and language are closely linked. We do not get an idea and then come up with words
to express it.Rather, we usually think in words. People often say, "I know what I want to say,
but I just don't know how to say it." In fact, if you truly, knew what you wanted to say, you
probably would be able to say it. On most occasions when we are looking for "just the right
word," what we are really looking for is just the right idea.Words are the tools of a speaker's
craft. They have special uses, just like the tools of any other profession. Have you watched a
carpenter at work? The job that would take you or me a couple of hours is done by the
carpenter in 10 minutes - with the right tools. You can't drive a nail with a screwdriver or turn
a screw with a hammer. It is the same with public speaking. You must choose the right words
for the job you want to do.
Words have two kinds of meanings - denotative and connotative. Denotative meaning is
precise, literal and objective and simply describes the object, place, person or event referred.
Connotative is more variable, figurative, suggestive, implied and subjective. It has to to with
the meaning suggested by the associations or emotions triggered by a word or a phrase.An
effective public speaker must be aware of the meanings of words and know how to use
language accurately, clearly, vividly and appropriately. Let's discuss each of the four
separately and in depth.To address accuracy of speech, keep asking yourself, "What do I
really want to say? What do I really mean?" prepare your speeches. Choose words that are
precise, exact, accurate. When in doubt, consult the dictionary or thesaurus to make sure you
have the best words to express your ideas.