Chapter 13.3 6 Elements of Language

Elements of Language in Public Speaking

Learning Objectives

• Understand the six elements of language important for public speakers.
• Utilize the six elements of language in your own public speeches.

Importance of Language

• Language significantly impacts how an audience experiences a speech.
  • It influences audience perception regardless of vocabulary complexity.

Clarity

• Clarity is using language to ensure the audience understands the speaker's ideas as intended.
• Language, as a communication channel, can be problematic due to varying connotative definitions.
• Example:
  • Unclear: "Older female relative who became aerodynamic venison roadkill."
  • Clear: "Grandma got run over by a reindeer."
  • Unclear: "Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals."
  • Clear: "Frosty the Snowman."
  • Clear language is crucial for effective message understanding.

Economy

• Word economy is using only the necessary words to accurately express an idea.
• Rambling bores and distracts the audience.
• Example:
  • Wordy: "While the overall outcome may be undesirable and definitely not recommended."
  • Economical: "That stinks."
• Caveat: avoid being overly basic to prevent offending the audience. Adjust language to match audience's level.

Obscenity

• Obscenity refers to indecent language, including curse words or pornographic references.
• Avoid obscene language in speeches.
• Using obscenity can distract the audience from the message, even when the speech relates to the obscene word.

Obscure Language / Jargon

• Obscure language: language not commonly understood by the audience.
  • Example: Using the word "plethora" without defining it.
    • "Plethora" means many or an abundance.
  • Example: "Greening" a workplace means making it more environmentally friendly.
• Jargon: language specific to a highly specialized group, trade, or profession.
  • Examples: Legal jargon, medical jargon.
  • Problem: speakers assume jargon is universally understood.
• Acronyms & Initialisms
  • Acronym: Word formed from letters of other words (e.g., NASDAQ, PET, IHOP).
  • Initialism: Pronouncing initials (e.g., CDC, FMRI, BOA).
  • Always define acronyms and initialisms upon first use.
    • Example: "According to The United States Code of Federal Regulations or CFR, employment discrimination…"

Power

• Power is the ability to influence another person's thoughts or behaviors (DeVito, 2009).
• Language can be used to gain or lose power.
• Avoid powerless language to maintain credibility.

Powerful vs. Powerless Language (Table 13.3)

• Powerful Language:
  • Direct Requests: Asking the audience to engage in specific behavior.
    • Example: "At the conclusion of today's speech, I want you to go out and buy a bottle of hand sanitizer and start using it to protect your life."
  • Bargaining: Agreement that affects both parties.
    • Example: "If you vote for me, I promise to make sure that our schools get the funding they so desperately need."
  • Ingratiation: Attempting to gain favor.
    • Example: "Because you are all smart and talented people, I know that you will see why we need to cut government."
• Powerless Language:
  • Hesitations: Language that makes the speaker sound unprepared or uncertain.
    • Example: "Well, as best I was able to find out, or I should say from what little material I was able to dig up, I kind of think that this is a pretty interesting."
  • Intensifiers: Overemphasizing aspects of the speech.
    • Example: "Great. Fantastic. This topic is absolutely amazing and fabulous."
  • Disqualifiers: Downplaying qualifications and competence.
    • Example: "I'm not really an expert on this topic, and I'm not very good at doing research, but here goes nothing."
  • Tag Questions: Seeking audience's consent.
    • Example: "This is a very important behavior, isn't it?" or "You really should do this, don't you think?"
  • Self-Critical Statements: Downplaying abilities and showing lack of confidence.
    • Example: "I have to tell you that I'm not a great public speaker, but I'll go ahead and give it a try."
  • Hedges: Modifiers indicating uncertainty.
    • Example: "I really believe this may be true, sort of. Maybe my conclusion is a good idea. Possibly not."
  • Verbal Surrogates: Filler words.
    • Example: "I was like air going to, say something, important like about this variety."

Variety

• Variety is a speaker's ability to use a range of different language choices.
• Encompasses all language characteristics discussed.
• Avoid overusing one language device.
• Ensure a range of language choices in speech preparation.

Key Takeaways

• Public speakers must be aware of their language.
• Six common language issues:
  • Clarity
  • Economy
  • Obscenity
  • Obscure language/jargon
  • Power
  • Variety
• Speeches should:
  • Contain clear language
  • Use few words
  • Avoid obscenity
  • Be careful with obscure language/jargon
  • Use powerful language
  • Include variety