How I Became Articulate With My Speaking (5 Secrets)
Summary
TLDRThis video script emphasizes the art of articulate speech, highlighting five key qualities that enhance communication. Expanding one's lexicon through repetition and thoughtful speech, mastering pauses for impact, pruning filler words, and being mindful of language exposure are discussed. Additionally, tuning one's vocal instrument by incorporating pitch, volume, and speed variations is stressed. The script encourages viewers to practice these techniques to elevate their speech to be more expressive and persuasive.
Takeaways
- đ Expand Your Lexicon: Increase your surface lexicon by using words from your deep lexicon more frequently to enhance expressiveness.
- đ Repetition Matters: It takes about 38 unique uses of a word to make it a default in your speech, as shown by a Yale study.
- đŻ Access Deep Lexicon: Give yourself more time to think before speaking to access more profound words from your deep lexicon.
- âž Power of Pause: Use pauses effectively to make ordinary words sound extraordinary and to show confidence and intentionality in speech.
- đĄ Silence is Golden: Embrace silence as a sign of thoughtfulness rather than a lack of intelligence or slowness.
- đ Pruning Fillers: Reduce reliance on filler words like 'um', 'ah', and 'like' to improve the quality of your speech.
- đ Mind Your Mouth: Keep your mouth closed until you are ready to speak to avoid starting sentences with fillers.
- đ Language Input Inventory: Recognize that your speech is influenced by the language you are exposed to, and seek out rich language sources.
- đ Read to Enrich: Reading great works exposes you to a rich vocabulary and enhances your intellectual horizon, improving your speech.
- đŒ Vocal Instrument: Understand that the way you use your voice, including pitch, volume, and speed, contributes significantly to articulate speech.
- đ¶ Melody in Speech: Practice reading poetry aloud to develop a more melodic and varied vocal delivery.
Q & A
What are the two types of lexicons mentioned in the script?
-The two types of lexicons mentioned are the 'surface lexicon' which consists of the words one uses in daily communication, and the 'deep lexicon' which includes words one recognizes but rarely uses in speech.
How many unique words does the average native English-speaking adult's deep lexicon contain?
-The average native English-speaking adult's deep lexicon contains approximately twenty thousand to thirty-five thousand unique words.
What is the key to accessing the deep lexicon according to the script?
-The key to accessing the deep lexicon is through repetition and giving oneself more time to index the deep lexicon before speaking, which can help in finding more precise and expressive words.
How many times does a word need to be used before it can rank higher in one's surface lexicon according to a Yale study?
-According to a Yale study, it takes using a word 38 unique times for it to instinctively default to that word in our speech and rank higher in our surface lexicon.
What is the significance of pausing in speech as discussed in the script?
-Pausing in speech is significant as it allows the speaker to formulate thoughts more fully, enhances the impact of the words, and shows confidence and care for the listener.
Why is it important to prune filler words from our speech?
-Pruning filler words from our speech is important because over-reliance on them can detract from the clarity and impact of our message, and they can make our speech sound less formal and more disfluent.
What are two practices suggested to reduce the use of filler words?
-The two practices suggested to reduce filler words are processing the endings of words to slow down speech and focus on word selection, and keeping the mouth closed until ready to speak the first word to avoid introducing filler words.
What does the script suggest as a way to improve the quality of our language inputs?
-The script suggests taking inventory of all the sources of language we expose ourselves to daily, such as the people we surround ourselves with, the music we listen to, and the content we consume, and engaging more with sources of articulate speech.
How can reading poetry out loud help in developing one's vocal instrument?
-Reading poetry out loud helps in developing one's vocal instrument by teaching the importance of variation in tone, emphasizing specific words for rhyme, and creating a melodic quality to the speech.
What is the role of our voice in sounding articulate as per the script?
-Our voice plays a crucial role in sounding articulate as it provides emotional substance to words through pitch, volume, speed of speaking, and variation, which can make even the same word sound significantly different.
What is the final advice given in the script for practicing the five techniques discussed?
-The final advice given is to practice these five techniques consistently over the next two weeks in various speaking scenarios such as debating, negotiating, persuading, and compromising to become more articulate and artistic with language.
Outlines
đ Expanding Your Lexicon for Articulate Speech
This paragraph discusses the importance of expanding one's lexicon to become a more articulate speaker. It differentiates between the 'surface lexicon' and the 'deep lexicon', explaining that the former consists of words we use regularly, while the latter contains words we recognize but seldom use. The speaker suggests that articulacy involves accessing the deep lexicon and using its words more frequently. Two methods are provided to achieve this: repetition, which involves using a word enough times for it to become part of the surface lexicon, and taking time to index the deep lexicon before speaking, which can lead to the discovery of more expressive words. The paragraph emphasizes the need to move beyond default language to find the right words for effective communication.
đ€« The Power of Pausing in Speech
The second paragraph focuses on the significance of pausing in speech to enhance articulateness. It argues against the common misconception that pausing indicates slow thinking, instead asserting that it demonstrates thoughtfulness and confidence. The speaker uses Steve Jobs as an example to illustrate how pausing can create suspense and allow for more deliberate and precise speech. The paragraph also advises against speaking too hastily, which can lead to incoherent ideas, and suggests that taking the time to think before speaking can improve the clarity and impact of one's words.
đŁïž Pruning Filler Words for Clearer Speech
This paragraph addresses the issue of filler words such as 'um', 'ah', 'like', and 'you know', which can detract from the clarity and effectiveness of speech. It explains that these words often arise when we speak faster than we think, and they can make speech sound less formal but also less articulate. The speaker shares two practices to reduce reliance on filler words: processing the endings of words to slow down speech and focus on word choice, and keeping the mouth closed until the first word is ready to be spoken. These techniques aim to improve the quality of language and reduce unnecessary fillers.
đ Cultivating Rich Language Inputs
The fourth paragraph emphasizes the importance of the quality of language inputs in shaping our speech. It suggests that our speech is a reflection of the language we are exposed to, and consuming cheap or shoddy language can negatively impact our speaking abilities. The speaker recommends taking inventory of all language sources in one's daily life, such as the people we interact with, the music we listen to, and the content we consume. The paragraph encourages engaging with sources of articulate speech and reading great works to expand one's intellectual horizon and enrich thinking, which in turn enhances speech.
đŒ Tuning Your Vocal Instrument
The final paragraph of the script highlights the role of voice in articulate speech. It points out that while choosing the right words is crucial, the way we deliver them is equally important. The speaker notes that articulate speakers often have a melodic quality to their speech, using pitch, volume, speed, and variation to convey emotional substance. An example from Sir David Attenborough's beloved voice illustrates the effectiveness of vocal variation. The paragraph concludes with the suggestion to read poetry out loud as a way to practice and develop vocal variation, ultimately improving the musicality and expressiveness of one's speech.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄArticulate Speaker
đĄLexicon
đĄSurface Lexicon
đĄDeep Lexicon
đĄRepetition
đĄPause
đĄFiller Words
đĄLanguage Inputs
đĄVocal Instrument
đĄPoetry
Highlights
Expanding one's surface lexicon is key to articulate speech.
Lexicon consists of a surface lexicon for daily use and a deep lexicon of rarely used words.
The average native English-speaking adult has a deep lexicon of 20,000 to 35,000 words.
Articulate speakers express ideas precisely by choosing the right words at the right time.
Repetition helps words from the deep lexicon to rise to the surface lexicon.
A Yale study found that using a word 38 times makes it part of the surface lexicon.
Articulate speakers often use profound and expressive words frequently in their speech.
Taking time to index the deep lexicon before speaking can improve word choice.
Pausing can make ordinary words sound extraordinary and convey confidence.
Steve Jobs used pauses effectively to create suspense and formulate articulate responses.
Filler words like 'um', 'ah', and 'like' should be minimized for clear speech.
Processing the endings of words and keeping the mouth closed can reduce filler words.
Language inputs, such as reading and listening, influence the quality of one's speech.
Exposing oneself to rich language sources can improve speech articulateness.
The voice plays a significant role in sounding articulate, beyond just word choice.
Vocal variation, including pitch, volume, and speed, adds musicality to speech.
Reading poetry aloud can help develop vocal variation and enhance the speaking voice.
Five techniques are discussed to improve articulateness in speech.
Transcripts
every articulate speaker understands
five qualities about speech that allow
them to be playful precise and
persuasive with their words the first is
expanding their surface lexicon your
Lexicon refers to your personal
vocabulary the collection of words you
recognize and employ in your speaking
each of us has a surface lexicon and a
deep lexicon I'll use my proprietary
whiteboard technology to illustrate this
your surface lexicon Illustrated here
are the words you unconsciously default
to and employ in your daily
communication approximately fifteen
hundred to three thousand unique words
your deep lexicon on the other hand is
comprised of words that you recognize
but rarely employ in your speech the
average native English-speaking adult
has a deep lexicon of approximately
twenty thousand to thirty five thousand
unique words when we speak when we
answer a question or compose a sentence
our our brain first consults our surface
lexicon for familiar words for example
if I asked you what did you think of the
stake
the default reply might be the stake was
good it was awesome
have you heard of the words flavorful
tender or perfectly seasoned course but
those words are not located in your
surface lexicon and thus not the
language that your brain defaults to as
descriptors for a stake
what we realize is that the default way
our brain wants us to say something is
more than likely not the best way to say
it because the words registered in our
surface lexicon are simply not the right
words and that's what articulacy is
being able to express your ideas in the
right words at the right time
this invites the question how do we
access this deep lexicon that we all
have how do we give the words we already
know
more
buoyancy so that they register in our
surface lexicon and begin to manifest in
conversation let me provide you with two
solutions that accomplish this the first
is repetition the more you use a word
the higher it ranks in your Lexicon a
study from Yale found that it takes
using a word 38 unique times for our
brain to instinctively default to that
word in our speech in other words 38
times in order for that word to register
in our surface lexicon what you must
realize about articulate speakers is
that they aren't constantly accessing
their deep lexicon rather they've
expanded their surface lexicon to
include words that are more profound and
expressive you'll observe this if you
watch any speaker for hours on end any
words you might consider to be powerful
or profound will surface frequently in
their speaking they'll often use words
that carry imagery or embody tangible
ideas for example instead of saying I
have to pay attention to a lot of
information they might say I have to pay
attention to a mosaic of information or
instead of saying I'm at a lack of ideas
they'll say I've reached idea poverty
besides repetition using a word multiple
times in order for it to possibly enter
or rank higher in your surface lexicon
the other action you can take is to give
yourself more time to index your deep
lexicon what do I mean by this
think of it like breathing you can use
shallow breaths and still provide your
lungs and brain with oxygen
or
you can take your time
inhale deeply and feel more satisfied
and replenished
breathe deeper with your words take more
time before you speak to index your
vocabulary for better words ask yourself
this question
is this the right word
is this the right word if I took more
time a few more seconds could I perhaps
excavate a better word from my deep
lexicon
you'll be amazed how much
progress you make in your speaking just
by asking yourself this introspective
question is this the right word is there
a better word for this idea don't assume
the word your brain defaults to is the
best word number two learn how to
command the pause one of the Epiphany
moments I experienced in working to
elevate my own speech was learning that
I could make ordinary words sound
extraordinary simply by using a
well-placed pause
the recommendation to use pauses is
often considered trivial because
it's so simple
yet being articulate requires that you
understand this relationship between
silence and the impact that it has in
your speech as a society we've almost
become allergic to pausing in our
speaking we think that pausing is
considered a sign of mental slowness or
unintelligence when most of the time it
conveys the opposite pausing shows that
you value the weight of your words and
wish to be calculated and intentional
with your language it shows confidence
in yourself and
care for your listener watch this short
clip from Steve Jobs and take notice of
how pausing before speaking
create suspense in the listener's mind
but more importantly allows Steve time
to construct a confident and articulate
answer
what's important to you in the
development of a product
you know
one of the things that really hurt Apple
was after I left John Scully got a very
serious disease
and that disease I've seen other people
get it too it's um it's the disease of
thinking that a really great idea is
ninety percent of the work as Steve
demonstrates silence before you speak
allows you to formulate your thoughts
more fully most of us in conversation or
any form of communication have the
proclivity to introduce words before we
know how we're going to use them
sometimes I'll start a sentence and I
don't even know where it's going we
blurt out a hasty first pass at
conveying an idea and then progressively
revise our word choice by rephrasing our
sentence or perhaps depending on More
Words which furthers the lack of clarity
of the idea we're attempting to convey
pausing before speaking or between
points allows you to achieve
a better intimacy with your words you
have more time to think through your
ideas and your listener is able to
thoroughly absorb your words because
they are more deliberate your words are
more precise
number three pruning your filler words I
would imagine most of us already know we
shouldn't over rely on words such as
um ah and like or expressions like you
know I feel like basically essentially
the fullest is available down below this
video if you want to diagnose your
disfluencies as filler words are often
known as it's worth noting that filler
words are in fact a natural part of
language as ironic as it may be filler
words help our speech flow and sound
less formal and blunt the thorny problem
though is when we overwork them in our
speech fill their words appear because
we often speak faster than we can think
our mouth gets ahead of our mind and we
need to catch up and hence we rely on
the filler word also because we're
uncomfortable with silence and we'll do
anything to maintain command of the air
even if it means treating our listener
to an empty sound
I've been able to cure myself of most
filler words by adopting two practices
that I want to share with you the first
is processing the endings of your words
when I focused on hearing the endings of
the words that are coming out of my
mouth it automatically one reduces the
speed of my speech but two
channels my focus onto the words
themselves allowing me to audit my word
selection more carefully secondly
practice keeping your mouth closed until
you are ready to speak your first word
for many of us the default behavior is
to introduce our voice with a filler for
example Joseph what did you think of
this project
um
is that familiar if so keep your mouth
closed until you have defined in your
mind your opening words this has helped
me immensely
number four take inventory of your
language inputs what do I mean by this
I mean recognize that the way you speak
right now is the result of the
collective influence of the language
that you've been exposed to
just as we are often the product of our
environments our speech reflects the
quality of language that we've
interacted with and that we've allowed
into our information processor our
language processor if you read and
listen to Cheap and shoddy sentences
filled with slang vulgarity and vague
vocabulary you unconsciously adopt those
language patterns and the higher and
higher those expressions and words
register in your surface lexicon until
they begin to automatically manifest in
our speech this is why it's advantageous
to read and expose yourself to sources
of Rich language there are a few great
articulators who aren't ridiculously
well read for this very reason reading
great works exposes you to great words
and expands your intellectual Horizon
which enriches your thinking and
reflects in your speech of course I'm
not just talking about reading books my
recommendation is to take inventory of
all the sources of language you expose
yourself to on a daily basis the people
you surround yourself with the music you
listen to the content you consume you
don't have to make any drastic changes
I'm not recommending you overhaul your
life just because you watched a YouTube
video but if you do notice that most
sources where you watch or listen to
words don't feature articulate or
expressive language I might suggest
engaging more with sources of articulate
speech that give you better access to
the tapestry of language that you seek
to embody in your speech
number five tune your vocal instrument
as much as we like to Define articulacy
as choosing the right words
we often grossly undervalue the
significance that our voice holds in
sounding articulate what you'll notice
in articulate speakers is that there is
a music and a melodic quality to
articulating their words words
aren't just words they're
receptacles that are filled with
emotional substance and that substance
is provided by our pitch our volume the
speed of our speaking and variation the
same word spoken in a monotone can sound
staggeringly different than if they were
delivered with finesse and maturity
listen to this clip from Sir David
Attenborough a man considered to have
one of the most beloved voices of all
time I want you to pay attention to the
variation in his voice his pausing and
above all the complete Annunciation of
each word as you spend the next two
weeks
debating
negotiating persuading and compromising
as you surely must
it's easy to forget that ultimately the
emergency time it comes down to a single
number of course while not every one of
us can acquire a rich Voice or adopt an
elegant British accent we can learn to
be more melodic with our voices learn to
think of your sentences almost like
music each word is a note that
harmonizes with the others to produce a
beautiful Melody that can enhance the
enjoyment of listening to you perhaps
the quickest way to help develop your
vocal instrument is to read poetry out
loud poetry is incredibly effective at
subtly teaching
how vital variation in your tone is
because you have to read poems a certain
way often with playful emphasis on
specific words in order to achieve the
rhyme set up in the poem I'll leave a
list of the best poems below this video
that will help with this please practice
these five techniques discussed in this
video and you will become more athletic
and artistic with your language thanks
for watching and I wish you every
success in speaking more articulately
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