Denotative meaning
Dictionary meaning
Connotative meaning
Meaning suggested by associations/emotions triggered by a word/phrase
- Gives words intensity and emotional power
- More variable, figurative, and subjective meaning
Thesaurus
Book of synonyms
Using language accurately–make sure you have the best words to express your ideas
Concrete words
(Specific words) Words that refer to actual objects.
- Lead to a clearer, more informative speech
- Is easier for audience to recall
- More likely to claim your audience’s attention
- Key to effective imagery
- Call up mental impressions of sights, sounds, touch, smell, and taste
Abstract words
(General words) Words that refer to ideas/concepts.
- Necessary to express certain kinds of ideas
- Much easier to misinterpret
Clutter
Discourse that takes many more words than are necessary to express and idea
Imagery
Use of vivid language to create mental images
Three ways to generate imagery:
Concrete words
Simile
Metaphor
Simile
Comparison using “like” or “as”
- Explicit comparison
- Don’t make cliche
Cliche
Overused expression
Avoid in speech-making!
Metaphor
Comparison not using “like” or “as”
- Implicit comparison
- Can help clarify ideas/concepts
- Express feelings and emotions
Rhythm
The pattern of sound in a speech. Created by carefully arranging words.
- Never emphasize sound and rhythm at the expense of meaning
Parallelism
Using similar arrangement of a par or series of related words/phrases/sentences. Mimicking the sentence structure.
Repetition
Reiterating one word/phrase at the beginning or end of successive clauses
- Usually results in parallelism
Alliteration
Repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words
- Makes it easy to remember
- Used in excess it can draw too much attention to the repetition and not the meaning of the speech
Using language
Language does not mirror reality
Does not describe the world as it is
Does help create our sense of reality by giving meaning to events
Using language clearly
Cannot assume that what is clear to you is clear to your audience
Speakers meaning must be immediately comprehensible
Can ensure this by choosing:
- Familiar words
- Concrete over abstract words
- Eliminating verbal clutter
When to use more intense/less intense connotative meanings
Depends on the audience, occasion, and speaker’s purpose
Want to evoke emotion= use intense connotative meanings
Want to address an issue sounding impartial= use less intensive connotative meanings
Familiar words
- One of the biggest barriers to clear speech is using big, bloated words where short, sharp ones will do the job better
(Esp when there is technical language that may be familiar to the speaker but not the audience) - Need terms that create sharp mental images
Use plain talk
Eliminate clutter
- Cluttered speech has become a national epidemic
- Forces listeners to hack through a tangle of words to discover the meaning
- Keep your language lean and lively
- Beware of using several words where one or two will do
- Avoid flabby phrases
- Get rid of verbal fillers
(“You know” “Like” “Really”) - Watch out for redundant adjectives/adverbs
- Inexperienced speakers string together two or three synonymous adjectives
Hardest part is recognizing the clutter and forcing yourself to throw away the unnecessary words
Can help eliminate by recording yourself and watching it back
Using language vividly
You can be accurate without being clear and can be accurate and clear without being interesting
- Imagery
- Rhythm
Rhythmic devices (Types)
Alliteration, Parallelism, Repetition, Antithesis
Imagery devices (Types)
Simile and metaphor
Language must be appropriate for
OATS
Occasion
Audience
Topic
Speaker
Language appropriateness to the occasion
Formal vs informal
