1. Chapter 4.16: Using Language
Style involves both specific word choices and rhetorical devices (techniques of language) that speakers use to express their ideas and achieve their speech purpose.

2. Prepare Your Speeches for the Ear
Strive for Simplicity of expression
translate jargon, the specialized language of a given profession—into commonly understood terms.
Be concise
use contractions, shortened forms of the verb to be and other auxiliary verbs in conjunction with pronouns (I, he, she, you,) and proper nouns.
Consider phrases and sentence fragments
Make frequent use of repetition and transitions
Use personal pronouns (we, us, I and you)

3. Choose Language that Encourages Shared Meaning
Use culturally sensitive and unbiased language.
Biased language- relies on unfounded assumptions, negative descriptions, or stereotypes of a given group’s age, class, gender, disability, geographic, ethnic, racial, or religious characteristics
Colloquial expressions-regional variations in expressions
sexiest pronouns- unnecessarily restrict the gender of the person or persons in question
persons with disabilities (PWD).
Choose concrete words
Concrete language- specific, tangible, and definite
Abstract language- general or nonspecific

4. Offer Vivid Imagery Select Words that are colorful and concrete
Appeal to the senses
Use Figures of speech
Expressions in which words are used in a non-literal fashion to achieve a rhetorical effect
Simile, metaphor, analogy, personification, understatement, irony, allusion, hyperbole, onomatopoeia

5. Choose Language that Builds Credibility
Use appropriate language
Code switching- deliberate use of dialect
Use words accurately
malapropism: the inadvertent use of a word or phrase in place of one that sounds like it
denotative meaning: literal, or dictionary definition
connotative meaning: special association that different people bring to bear on it.
Choose words that convey confidence and conviction.
use the active voice active voice- subject performs the action
Use “I” language
Avoid Powerless Speech:
hedges- unnecessary words and phrases that qualify or introduce doubt into statements that should be straightforward (I guess my question is, In my opinion, I may not be right, but)
tag questions- unnecessary questions that are appended to statements or commands (I will next address the issue of economics, okay?)

6. Choose Language that Creates a Lasting Impression
Use repetition to create rhythm
repetition is one of the most effective strategies for creating a lasting impression.
Anaphora is a form of repetition in which the speaker repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Use alliteration for a poetic quality
alliteration is the repetition of the same sounds, usually initial consonants, in two or more neighboring words or syllables; hackneyed refers to alliteration that is poorly crafted.

7. Parallelism Use parallelism to drive your points home
parallelism is the arrangement of words, phrases, or sentences in a similar form.
Parallelism in speeches often makes use of antithesis—setting off two ideas in balanced (parallel) opposition to each other to create a powerful effect
A triad is the use of three parallel statements
See page 137 for examples

8. Chapter 5.17: Methods of Delivery

9. Qualities of Effective Delivery
Effective Delivery is the skillful application of natural conversational behavior in a way that is relaxed, enthusiastic, and direct.
Strive for Naturalness
Show enthusiasm
Project a sense of confidence
Be direct

10. Methods of Delivery
Manuscript- speech is read from fully prepared text
Memorized- speech is delivered entirely from memory (oratory)
Impromptu- speech is delivered without preparation or practice
Extemporaneous- speech is well-practiced and delivered from a key-word phrase outline.