演讲的艺术--用语

     The Art of Public Speaking——Using LanguageHave you ever played Pictionary1? The point of the game is to draw words so people watching you can guess them. Some words are easy ?nbsp;"house," "bird," and "television," for instance. Even people without artistic¹ talent can draw these in such away that observers catch on immediately. But other kinds of words are more challenging. Try drawing "numb," "embarrass," or "dehydrated2." The more abstract the word the more difficult it is to represent visually. How would you draw "improvement" or "appropriate"?

    This is why language has evolved. Human beings need to communicate at a level far above what can be shown by pictures. But for language to work there must be a common understanding of what words mean. In effect, we've all made a pact3 that a certain collection of letters and sounds will mean the same thing to everybody. If you say "book," everybody who speaks English will picture something like what you're holding right now. On the other hand, when you don't use words properly, you "break the pact²" and communication breaks down. Suppose you say to a friend, "Abby, you're so pedestrian4." You may mean she walks a lot; but Abby is likely to become angry, because you actually called her boring and ordinary.

    Language Is ImportantGood speakers respect language and how it works. How well do you use language? Do you say Shaquille O'Neal5 plays basketball good, when you mean he plays well? Do you say in the eventuality of when if will do? Do you describe a hurricane as aterrible disaster, as if there were such a thing as a good disaster?

    If you do these things, you are bound to be less effective as a speaker. And, unfortunately, you are not alone. Much American speech is turning into the linguistic³ equivalent of junk food6. As a speaker, once you get the right idea, you mustdecide how best to communicate it to listeners. To do this, you need to be especially conscious of what language can do. Unless you use language accurately⁴ and clearly, no one will understand your ideas.

    Meaning of wordsWords have two kinds of meanings ?nbsp;denotative and connotative7. Denotative meaning is precise, literal, and objective. It simply describes the object, person, place, idea, or event to which the word refers. One way to think of a word's denotative meaning is as its dictionary definition. Connotative meaning is more variable, figurative, and subjective⁵. Put simply, it is what the word suggests or implies.

    Using language accuratelyUsing language accurately is as vital to a speaker as using numbers accurately is to an accountant. However, we all commit subtle errors ?nbsp;especially using one word when another will capture our ideas more precisely⁶. Every word has shades of meaning that distinguish it from every other word. As Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug⁷."8 If you have serious aspirations⁸ as a speaker, you should work out a systematic⁹ plan to improve your vocabulary. The purpose of this is to learn how to use the proper word at the proper time.

    Using language clearlyAs many people have discovered, much to their dismay, it is possible to use language accurately without using it clearly. A speaker's meaning must be immediatelycomprehensible; it must be so clear that there is virtually no chance of misunderstanding. You can ensure this by using familiar words, by choosing concrete words over abstract words, and by eliminating verbal clutter9.

    Using language vividlyJust as you can be accurate without being clear, so you can be both accurate and clear without being interesting. If you want to move people with your speeches, use moving language. Dull, dreary¹² words make for dull, dreary speeches. Bring your speeches to life by using vivid, animated¹³ language. Although there are several ways to do this, here are two of the most important ?nbsp;imagery (the use of vivid language to create mental images of objects, actions, or ideas) and rhythm10 (the pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice and arrangement of words).

    SummaryOf all human creations, language may be the most remarkable¹⁴. Through language we share experiences, formulate¹⁵ values, exchange ideas, transmit knowledge, and sustain culture. Indeed, language is vital to thinking itself. Contrary to popular belief, language does not simply mirror reality, but helps create our sense of reality by giving meaning to events.

    Words are the tools of a speaker's craft. They have special uses, just like the tools of any other profession. As a speaker, you should be aware of the meanings of words and know how to use language accurately, clearly, and vividly¹¹.

    Using language accurately is as vital to a speaker as using numbers accurately to an accountant. Never use a word unless you are sure of its meaning. If you are not sure, look up the word in a dictionary. As you prepare your speeches, ask yourself constantly, "What do I really want to say? What do I really mean?" Choose words that are precise and accurate.

    Using language clearly allows listeners to grasp your meaning immediately. You can assure this by using familiar words that are known to the average person and require no specialized¹⁶ background; by choosing concrete words in preference to more abstract ones; and by eliminating verbal clutter¹⁰.

    Using language vividly helps bring your speech to life. One way to make your language more vivid is through imagery, or the creation of word pictures. You can develop imagery by using concrete language, simile¹⁷, and metaphor¹⁸.11 Another way to make your speeches vivid is by exploiting the rhythm of language. Four devices for creating rhythm are parallelism, repetition, alliteration¹⁹, and antithesis²⁰.12 Parallelism is the similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences. Repetition is the use of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences. Alliteration is the repetitionof the initial consonant²¹ sounds of close or adjoining words. Antithesis is the juxtaposition²² of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structure.

    1. pictionary: 应该是“picture”与“dictionary”的合成词。

    2. dehydrated: 干燥的。

    3. pact: 协定。

    4. pedestrian: 常见义是“步行者”，同时也有“缺乏想像力的、乏味的”之意。

    5. Shaquille O'Neal: “大鲨鱼”奥尼尔，MBA著名球星，系洛杉矶湖人队中锋。

    6. junk food: 外表花哨无价值的东西。

    7. denotative: 指示意义的，本义的；connotative: 有隐含意义的，转义的。

    8. 一个准确的词与一个几乎准确的词的区别相当于闪电和萤火虫的区别。

    9. verbal clutter: 说话口齿不清。

    10. imagery: 形象化描述，比喻；rhythm: （言语、文字等的）抑扬节奏、轻重规则变化。

    11. simile和metaphor分别是“明喻”和“隐喻”的意思。

    12. 四个词的意思分别是“类似”、“反复”、“头韵法（指在一组词或一行诗中用相同的字母或声韵开头）”、“对偶（使用两个平行的词、短语、分句或句子）”。

1 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

2 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

3 linguistic   

adj.语言的，语言学的

参考例句：

• She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
• The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。

4 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

5 subjective   

a.主观(上)的，个人的

参考例句：

• The way they interpreted their past was highly subjective. 他们解释其过去的方式太主观。
• A literary critic should not be too subjective in his approach. 文学评论家的看法不应太主观。

6 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

7 bug   

n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器

参考例句：

• There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
• The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。

8 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

9 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

10 clutter   

n.零乱，杂乱；vt.弄乱，把…弄得杂乱

参考例句：

• The garage is in such a clutter that we can't find anything.车库如此凌乱，我们什么也找不到。
• We'll have to clear up all this clutter.我们得把这一切凌乱的东西整理清楚。

11 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

12 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

13 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

14 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

15 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。

16 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

17 simile   

n.直喻，明喻

参考例句：

• I believe this simile largely speaks the truth.我相信这种比拟在很大程度上道出了真实。
• It is a trite simile to compare her teeth to pearls.把她的牙齿比做珍珠是陈腐的比喻。

18 metaphor   

n.隐喻，暗喻

参考例句：

• Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方，我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
• In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。

19 alliteration   

n.（诗歌的）头韵

参考例句：

• We chose alliteration on the theory a little vulgarity enhances memory.在理论上我们选择有点儿粗俗的头韵来帮助记忆。
• It'seems to me that in prose alliteration should be used only for a special reason.依我看，在散文里，头韵只能在一定的场合使用。

20 antithesis   

n.对立；相对

参考例句：

• The style of his speech was in complete antithesis to mine.他和我的讲话方式完全相反。
• His creation was an antithesis to academic dogmatism of the time.他的创作与当时学院派的教条相对立。

21 consonant   

n.辅音；adj.[音]符合的

参考例句：

• The quality of this suit isn't quite consonant with its price.这套衣服的质量和价钱不相称。
• These are common consonant clusters at the beginning of words.这些单词的开头有相同辅音组合。

22 juxtaposition   

n.毗邻，并置，并列

参考例句：

• The juxtaposition of these two remarks was startling.这两句话连在一起使人听了震惊。
• It is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors.这是并列对比色的结果。