Public Speaking Handbook

242 12.3 Using Words Well: speaker langUage and style

avoiD a Long Phrase When a short one WiLL Do

instead of saying...

So, for that reason

But at the same time

In today’s society

Due to the fact that

In the course of

In the final analysis

say...

So

But

Today

Because

During

Finally

Adapting Your Language Style to

Diverse Listeners

12.3 Discuss how to adapt your language style to diverse listeners.

To communicate successfully with a diverse group of listeners who comprise

your audience, make sure your language is understandable, appropriate, and

unbiased.

Use Language That Your Audience Can Understand

Even if you and all your public­speaking classmates speak English, you prob­

ably speak many varieties of the language. Perhaps some of your classmates

speak in an ethnic vernacular, such as “Spanglish,” an informal combination of

English and Spanish that is often heard near the United States–Mexico border;

Cajun, with its base of French words, frequently spoken in Louisiana; or the

African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Some of you may reflect where

you grew up by your use of regionalisms, words or phrases that are specific to

one part of the country but rarely used in quite the same way in other places.

Others of you may frequently use jargon, the specialized language of your pro­

fession or hobby.

When you give a speech to those who share your ethnic, regional, or profes­

sional background, you can communicate successfully with them using these

specialized varieties of English. However, when you give a speech to an audi­

ence as diverse as the members of your public­speaking class, where do you find

a linguistic common ground?

The answer is to use Standard American English. standard american english

(SAE) is the language taught by schools and used in the media, business, and

government in the United States. “Standard” does not imply that Standard

American English is inherently right and all other forms are wrong, only that

it conforms to a standard that most speakers of U.S. English will readily under­

stand, even though they may represent a variety of ethnic, regional, and profes­

sional backgrounds.

12.3

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