SPEAKING EFFECTIVE AMERICAN ENGLISH

 

 

     Now let's talk about duration, the fourth characteristic of effective speech. Words, like musical notes, last for a specific period of time. The longer a word, phrase or syllable¹ is stretched out, the greater the emphasis placed upon it. I'll demonstrate.

　I was driving my car.

   That's a fairly 1)neutral statement. However, if I prolong just one word, the sentence takes on a different meaning.

   I was driving MY car.

   You're proud of owning your car, or you're letting us know that you were driving your car. Yes, I was not driving my daughter's car or anyone else's; but this makes the point that duration is a powerful speech tool.

   True.

  Now let's move on to the fifth characteristic of speech. That's 2)tempo². To put it simply, tempo is the rate of speed or pace at which you speak. There is no correct pace at which people should speak; the rate of speed depends upon the urgency of the message or perhaps the nervousness or intensity³ of the speaker. Speaking at one constant tempo is often boring. Tempo is very important to effective       speech.  

Listen to this:

  Those who purchased tickets to the football game should 3)assemble in lobby B immediately. The bus will leave in ten minutes.

    I heard the urgency because of the tone of voice and because of the tempo. A leisurely⁴ or slow tempo on the other hand conveys to listeners that the message is perhaps not of great urgency. But          listen to this:

   Well uh, just uh, let me think it over and I'll get back to you sometime next week.

     Now what did you hear in this message? You hear that you were hiding your true feelings in some way.

    I am not sure that I trust you. I'm not certain that you do plan to get back to me next week, and I'm not sure if you will phone me as you promised.

    Oh, you KNOW that's not true. I'll phone, I promise.

   Don't believe him. Well, I've illustrated⁵ my point then. Speech conveys mood, emotion and intention.

　I've noticed that if you speak too slowly people may cut you off before you have a chance to finish your statement.

  Now I think we should get on to the sixth characteristic of speech because I...

     Let's get on to the sixth characteristic of speech, volume.

     You interrupted me, I guess I was speaking too slowly.

     That's right, you were. I finished your sentence for you. If people often interrupt, your tempo may be too slow or 4)halting.

     The sixth characteristic of speech is volume.  That's the relative loudness or softness of speech.  Again there's no correct volume at which you should speak, suit your volume to the situation. It's true that there is not a particular volume level at which a person should speak, but I think you'll agree that certain volume levels can be more effective than others.

   Well if you speak too softly, people will probably ask you to speak up and repeat yourself. They're having a difficult time understanding you. You may be5)perceived as timid, shy, uncertain, unsure of yourself, or unknowledgeable about your subject.

  But, if you speak too loudly, you may be perceived as 6)overbearing, 7)bossy, a 8)bully, a 9)braggart.  Your social invitations will 10)dwindle and your circle of friends will undoubtedly⁶ shrink.

     Your volume level should be appropriate to the situation. A loud volume is best suited to a crowded and noisy room or when you are addressing a group without a microphone. You can speak more quietly when you are in a small quiet room or when you are talking with just a few people near you. Varying the volume at which you speak is an effective technique for making your speech more 11)entertaining and 12)engaging.

    As the phrase goes if you want to capture someone's attention, Whisper.

     Yes.

   Do you use all six speech characteristics to your best advantage? Think about it. Consider each speech characteristic one by one.  And improve those areas in which you're not as effective as you could be.

 

流利美语训练妙方

 

      现在我们来看看说话的第四个特征：持久度。像音符一样，话语也会持续一段时间。一个单词、词组或音节持续的时间越长，就越表示强调。我来演示一遍：

      我在开车。

      这句陈述不带任何感情色彩。但是，如果我拖长了仅仅一个词，句子的意思就发生了变化。

　  我在开我的车。

      你为拥有自己的车而感到自豪，或者说你在开自己的车。是的，我既没开我女儿的车，也没开别的什么人的车；这说明音长是一个很重要的语言工具。

   没错。

   现在我们来谈第五个特征：节奏。简单地说，节奏就是说话的节奏和速度。一个人说话的速度并没有统一规定，而取决于说话内容的紧急度或说话者的紧张度。总是用同一种语速说话会显得很枯燥。语速是使谈话生动有力的重要因素。请听：

     请购买了足球赛门票的乘客马上到B厅集合，汽车10分钟内开车。

      从语调和语速中我听出了紧迫感。如果语速慢而悠闲，听者就会觉得也许不是十分紧急。请听：

      那么，这样吧，我再好好考虑一下，下个星期再给你答复。

      从这句话里你听出了什么？你可以感觉到自己在隐藏内心的真实感受。

      我不能对你表示确信，我不确定下星期你会给我答复，也不确定你会像答应的那样给我电话。

      哦，你知道这不是真的。我会打电话的，我保证。

      别相信他。我已经阐明了自己的观点。语言表达了情绪、感情和意图。

      我注意到，如果你说得太慢，不等你说完人们就会打断你。

      现在我们继续，请看第六个特征，因为我……

      现在我们继续来看第六个特征-音量。

      你打断了我，我想是因为我说得太慢了。

      没错，你的确说得太慢了。我帮你把话说完了。如果人们总是打断你，你的语速就显得太慢或犹疑不决。

      第六个特征是音量，即声音的大小和柔和度。一个人说话的音量也没有统一标准，而是根据环境而变化的。一个人说话并不要求有一个特定的音量，但有几个音量的确要比其他的更有感染力。

      如果你说话的声音太小，人们会请你大声一点说，并重复前面所说的内容。他们感到理解你有一定困难。你给人的印象就会是：胆小害羞、不自信或对自己要说的话题并不确定。

　  但是，如果你说话的声音太大，人们就会觉得你傲慢专横，目空一切。你接到的社交类邀请就会减少，朋友圈也会越来越小。

      你的音量的大小要与环境相适应。在一个拥挤而吵闹的房间里，在没有话筒的情况下，你要向一群人说话就得提高音量。但如果在一间小而安静的房间里与身边的几个人交谈，你就得轻声说。变换音量是让你的谈话生动活泼的一个有力的法宝。

       就像俗语所说，如果你想引起人们的注意，那就干脆低声说。

       对。

你会用这六个法宝来使自己的谈话深入人心吗？试一试吧。逐一仔细地考虑一下，修正那些还不太完善的地方。

1) neutral  a. 无特色的，无特征的；不明确的

2) tempo  n.（工作或活动的）进度、节奏或格调

3) assemble  vi. 聚集，集合

4) halt  vi. 吞吞吐吐地说，犹豫

5) perceive  vt. 领悟，理解                     6) overbearing  a. 专横的，傲慢的

7) bossy  a.（非正式语）专横的，摆出老板架势的    

8) bully  n. 暴徒，欺侮弱小者

9) braggart  n. 自夸者，吹牛者                 10) dwindle  vi. 变得越来越小；减少

11) entertaining  a. 使人愉快的，有趣的    

12) engaging . 吸引人的，动人的；可爱的

 

1 syllable   

n.音节；vt.分音节

参考例句：

• You put too much emphasis on the last syllable.你把最后一个音节读得太重。
• The stress on the last syllable is light.最后一个音节是轻音节。

2 tempo   

n.(音乐的)速度；节奏，行进速度

参考例句：

• The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。
• They waltz to the tempo of the music.他们跟着音乐的节奏跳华尔兹舞。

3 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

4 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

5 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

6 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。