Eliminating Bad English Speaking Habits

Eliminating Bad English Speaking Habits

 

I say "um" too much

¹⁾Vocalized pauses or ²⁾fillers, including "um", "uh" and "ah", and their close relatives, "like", "you know", and "okay?", are some of the most common concerns brought to a speech ³⁾consultant². We don't, uh, want to, uh, get to, um, ⁴⁾picky here, since one to three percent of everyone's speech normally contains hesitations³. And folks like Bobby and Ted⁴ Kennedy have spoken successfully in public life despite long "aahhh" pauses. However, a bad case of "umm it is" makes you annoying to listen to. So, why do so many of us "um" along in life?  Most often, vocalized pauses function as a way to fill up space as we ⁵⁾formulate⁵ the next thought. Though old habits take some time to break, it is possible to ⁶⁾banish⁶ the "ums" and "uhs" forever.

Here are some tips for "um" and "uh" ⁷⁾extermination⁷.

First, spend a week observing your "um" and "uh" pattern. Just becoming aware of the ⁸⁾dimension of the problem, helps you to cut down.

Second, practice deliberately⁸ inserting one or two-second pauses into your speech. Many people who "um" their listeners to ⁹⁾distraction⁹, don't realize that short silences are less ¹⁰⁾obtrusive¹⁰ and perfectly¹¹ acceptable. 

Third, your goal is to allow a slight pause instead of that unnecessary vocalizing. Try to catch the start of your "ums" and "uhs". You can actually feel the movement in your vocal^{1 11)}chords. ¹²⁾Nip them in the bud and just be silent instead. 

 

I talk too fast

Some fast talkers come from families where there's a lot of competition for the floor. Others come from families that seem to have a genetic¹² speed streak¹³. They walk fast, work fast, and also talk fast. Some people race-talk because they feel no one really wants to listen to them. Finally, rapid speech can be a sign of stress. The good news about fast talking is that studies show that listeners prefer a faster-than-average rate to a slower-than-average rate. The bad news is that speaking at ¹³⁾breakneck speed, can leave a negative impression. 

If you are talking so fast that people find you hard to understand, start slowing down your speech with this technique. Count, one two, in your head at natural pauses between phrases, sentences and items in a list. The extra second will help you control your breathing better and allow time for listeners to absorb what you've said. 

In this next example, I'll say the one two aloud. But when you practice it, do the one two silently. "I'm glad to be meeting you today (one two). Before we get on with our agenda, (one two), I'd like to ask each of you (one two) to introduce yourself, (one two), and to tell us a bit about your company. Practice the "one two technique" when reading a newspaper or magazine article aloud. Use a tape recorder to double check that you've really allowed the pause it takes to say. (one two) 

 

如何排除演讲中的坏习惯

 

我的“嗯”好多

发声的停顿或补白，包括“哦”、“嗯”、“啊”以及它们的“近亲”：“就像”、“你知道”、“对吧？”，都是人们咨询语言矫正学家最普遍关心的问题。我们并非，哦，想要，哦，在，嗯，这儿吹毛求疵，既然任何人的言语中通常都有百分之一到百分之三的口吃。更何况还有像博比、肯尼迪那样长时间“啊——”的美国人在公开场合成功地发表了演说。不过，“嗯——，是……”弄不好会让你的听众感到不耐烦。那么为什么我们中还有众多的人要“嗯”个不停呢？多数情况下，发声停顿在我们进行下一个思考时起到了填补空缺的作用。虽然改掉旧习惯要花费时间，但永远告别“嗯”、“啊”是有可能的。

下面给出根除“嗯”、“啊”的几点诀窍：

一、 花一个星期的时间观察你“嗯”、“啊”的模式，稍稍了解问题的轻重缓急有助于减少它的发生次数。

二、 有意识地练习在你的言语中加入一、两秒钟的停顿。许多把听众“嗯”走神的人没有想到，短暂的沉默不但不易察觉而且完全可以接受。

三、 你的目标是允许轻微的停顿而不是那多余的发声。试着捕捉你“嗯”、“啊”的前奏，你能真真切切地感受到声带的擅动。把它们消灭在萌芽中然后转为沉默就行了。

 

我的嘴太快

说话快的人有一些是出自经常为赢得上风而争辩的家庭；而另一些，他们的家庭似乎带有快速的遗传基因，他们走路快，工作快，于是说话也快。有的人说话快因为他们觉得没有人真正想听他们说些什么，最终，过快的语速会成为心里紧张的前兆。有关说话快的研究好消息是，调查显示，人们普遍喜欢听快于正常语速的讲话而不喜欢慢于正常语速的讲话。而坏消息是，语速狂快会给人留下负面的印象。

如果你讲话的速度快得让人感到不知所云，那么就用这种方法来放慢你的语速。遇到词与词之间、句子与句子之间以及表格中栏与栏之间的自然停顿，在心里默数一二。多出的这一秒钟会帮你更好地控制呼吸同时也为听者理解你的话留下了时间。

在下一个例子中我将会大声地说出一二，但你练习的时候一二要默默地进行。“很高兴今天与大家会面（一二），在开始议程之前，我想先请各位（一二）做一下自我介绍（一二），并且向大家介绍一下你们公司的情况。在大声朗读报刊杂志的同时练习‘一二疗法’”。用录音机做复查，看看你是否真的留下了停顿的时间可以说，（一二）。

 

注释

1) vocalized [5vEukElaizd] a. 有声的

2) filler [5filE] n. 填充物

3) consultant [kEn5sQltEnt] n. 顾问，咨询者

4) picky [5piki] a. 吹毛求疵的，好挑剔的，过分讲究的

5) formulate [5fC:mjuleit] v. 阐明

6) banish [5bAniF] v. 消除，驱除

7) extermination [iks5tE:mineiFEn] n. 消灭，根绝

8) dimension [di5menFEn] n. 范围，程度

9) distraction [dis5trAkFEn] n. 分心，走神

10) obtrusive [Eb5tru:siv] a. 突出的，显著的

11) chord [kC:d] n. 发声，和音

12) nip them in the bud 将某事物阻止或消除于萌芽中

13) breakneck [5breiknek] a. 非常快的

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

2 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

3 hesitations   

n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 )；踌躇；犹豫（之事或行为）；口吃

参考例句：

• His doubts and hesitations were tiresome. 他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cool manipulators in Hanoi had exploited America's hesitations and self-doubt. 善于冷静地操纵这类事的河内统治者大大地钻了美国当局优柔寡断的空子。 来自辞典例句

4 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

5 formulate   

v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述

参考例句：

• He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
• I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。

6 banish   

vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除

参考例句：

• The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
• He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。

7 extermination   

n.消灭，根绝

参考例句：

• All door and window is sealed for the extermination of mosquito. 为了消灭蚊子，所有的门窗都被封闭起来了。 来自辞典例句
• In doing so they were saved from extermination. 这样一来却使它们免于绝灭。 来自辞典例句

8 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

9 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

10 obtrusive   

adj.显眼的；冒失的

参考例句：

• These heaters are less obtrusive and are easy to store away in the summer.这些加热器没那么碍眼，夏天收起来也很方便。
• The factory is an obtrusive eyesore.这工厂很刺眼。

11 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

12 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

13 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？