As someone who is going to college in one year I want to learn how to build my speech by incorporating vocab words. I do this in my writing- I am able to use many types of vocab words, like words that are on the SAT, but when it comes to me speaking I don't use these words that often, Especially in class. I try to make a point and it doesn't come out right, and I don't know what to do. Sometimes, however, when I am speaking to an adult I can speak the way that I wish- almost to the adult level of speech. This is all so confusing, but please help. If you have any advice or know of a paticular website that can help me that would be great.
2006-09-10 04:48:49 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
You are kind of like me, very articulate, and good with words. What you will want to do is, listen to others that have good word use, and follow after them, or watch a television show, that uses good words. You may also want to study a Thesaurus, to better help you. Good Luck!
2006-09-10 04:53:15 · answer #1 · answered by Jonas A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look at me! I'm a 56 year old high school dropout with a level 4 & 5% 'best' on Yahoo!Answers! I don't even know how to type! Yet, day after day for more than 2 years, I've learned how to operate this silly computer to answer YOUR question & I still am at a loss for certain woids! All I can say is, "Do not worry! It will be fine! You WILL find the woids ya need to carry on a very intelligent conversation without feeling self-conscientious! It's called 'growing up' or 'maturing' or sumthin like dat!" That other answer, about reading more & all that...now that's a great idea. The more you read the more you'll become accustomed to being able to relax and the woids will jes roll right outta yer moud!! We won't be able to shut you up! Jes look! Yer question is longer than a lot of the Yahoo!Answers!! I'm really delighted that you asked because that long rant from the Mister Language guy is a riot! Your 'vocab' will increase extrastencially (or sumthin like that) once ya attend one of those 'speech' classes, such as Debate or get involved in the Drama Club. That's another 'arena' for quick development of communication skills. Main thing is NOT to be overly self conscientious. Your efforts shouldn't be forced. Merely coached along with some awareness that over compensation could lead to people thinking you are a snob! We certainly don't want to over-do it! You're young & should be able to enjoy your youth! You are to be commended though for being aware of your goals & striving for improvement. Jes don't worry! Be happy! K-den, m1/NSWMoke aka mikewonaus +2
2006-09-10 05:44:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The marvelous thing about the English language is that it allows us to exploit...exploit......exploit our vocabulary anyway we want .....There is no right or wrong ways of learning it....just different that's all. And as long as you are able to get your message across to the other person, then you are in communication....Some vocab words are pretty impressive and it depends on who our audience is, isn't it...For example how you address to a bunch of lawyers and the language used is very different from say addressing to a kid of five for instance....If you feel that you cannot practice/use those vocab words you write verbally, then use simple words to express them. Talking in front of a mirror would help you gain confidence at the expense of people thinking that something is not normal about you! You could watch how newsreaders read or read the newspapers and get a feel of the way things are written. You could even send in weekily short shories and have them published to see how the response is like....
2006-09-10 05:09:36 · answer #3 · answered by singirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask Mr. Language Person!
(by Dave Barry)
Once again our glands are swollen with pride as we present "Ask
Mister Language Person," the column that answers your common
questions about grammar, punctuation and sheep diseases. Mister
Language Person is the only authority who has been formally
recognized by the American Association of English Teachers On
Medication. ("Hey!" were their exact words. "It's YOU!")
So without farther adieu, let us turn to our first question,
which comes from a reader who has just returned from a trip
to England.
Q. I have just returned from a trip to England, and . . .
A. We KNOW that. Get to the point! You're wasting space!
Q. OK, sorry. Anyway, I have just returned from a trip to England, and I
noticed that the English put an extra "u" in certain words, such
as "rumour," "humour" and "The Roulling Stounes." Also they call
some things by totally different names, such as "lift" when they
mean "elevator," "bonnet" when they mean "lorry" and "twit" when
they mean "former Vice President Quayle." My question is, don't
they have any dentists over there?
A. Apparently nout.
Q. Please explain the correct usage of the word "neither."
A. Grammatically, "neither" is used to begin sentences with compound
subjects that are closely related and wear at least a size 24,
as in: "Neither Esther nor Bernice have passed up many Ding
Dongs, if you catch my drift." It may also be used at the end
of a carnivorous injunction, as in: "And don't touch them
weasels, neither."
Q. My husband and I recently received a note containing this sentence:
"Give us the money, or you seen the last of you're child." I say
that the correct wording should be "you have done seen the last
of you're child," but my husband, Warren, insists it should be
"you have been done seeing the last of you're child." This has
become a real bone of contention, to the point where Warren
refuses to come out of the utility shed. What do you think?
A. We think that an excellent name for a band would be: "The Bones of
Contention."
Q. I have noticed that newspapers often state that they have obtained
information from "informed sources." Who are these sources?
A. We cannot tell you.
Q. Why not?
A. Because the Evil Wizard will turn them back into snakes.
Q. As an employee of the Internal Revenue Service, I have been tasked
with the paradigm of making our income-tax forms more "user
friendly" for the average American citizen, who according to
our research has the IQ of a sugar beet. I am currently working
on this sentence from the form 1040 instructions: "A taxpayer
who dies prior to the fourth trimester of the previous non-exempt
year must, within 10 fiscal days of kicking the bucket, file
Form 94-82348-RIP, which has not been available since the
Eisenhower administration." How can I make this sentence less
confusing?
A. According to the Association of Professional Tax Professionals, a much
clearer wording would be: " . . . which has not been available
since the Eisenhower administration (1952-60)."
Q. When should I say "phenomena," and when should I say "phenomenon?"
A. "Phenomena" is what grammarians refer to as a "subcutaneous invective,"
which is a word used to describe skin disorders, as in "Bob has
a weird phenomena on his neck shaped like Ted Koppel." Whereas
"phenomenon" is used to describe a backup singer in the 1957
musical group "Duane Furlong and the Phenomenons."
Q. What was their big hit?
A. "You Are the Carburetor of My Heart."
Q. What is the most fascinating newspaper photograph caption you have
ever seen?
A. That would be the caption to a 1994 photograph from the Billings, Mont.,
Gazette, sent in by alert reader David Martin. The photo, which
accompanies a very serious story on efforts to end the civil war
in Angola, shows some bikini-clad women on a beach, looking at a
man who is holding a monkey. The caption states, in its entirety:
"An Angolan carries his pet monkey Sunday on a beach in Angola as
leaders of the country sign a new peace agreement."
Q. Can you please reprint the top two headlines from the cover of the
October, 1996, issue of Reader's Digest?
A. Certainly:
FIRM UP YOUR BOTTOM
You Can Raise Your Child's IQ
Q. In Publication No. 51 of the U.S. Postal Service, which was sent in
by alert reader Oljan Repic, how is the term "Special Handling"
defined?
A. It is defined as "a service that is optional except when mailing
honeybees to Canada."
TODAY'S BUSINESS WRITING TIP: In writing proposals to prospective clients,
be sure to clearly state the benefits they will receive:
WRONG: "I sincerely believe that it is to your advantage to accept
this proposal."
RIGHT: "I have photographs of you naked with a squirrel."
GOT A QUESTION FOR MISTER LANGUAGE PERSON? That is not our problem.
2006-09-10 04:53:03 · answer #4 · answered by Marc H. Mayor 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My best advice is this: join The Toastmasters. I promise there will be a chapter near you.
They are a group of local people of all areas who get together to practice speaking out loud. Whether it's a prepared speech or a stand-up-and-go story, they'll give you opportunity and feed back.
It'll help you tremendously.
2006-09-10 04:53:19 · answer #5 · answered by wrathofkublakhan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recommend reading. I was lucky to be raised in a family where everyone reads a lot, and it's done my vocabulary a lot of good - although it doesn't help with pronunciation, seeing a word in print is much more helpful for finding its exact meaning and context than a dictionary. It doesn't really matter what you read, just do a lot of it!
2006-09-10 04:57:43 · answer #6 · answered by rissaofthesaiyajin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My advice to you would be to read more often, and avoid watching excessive amounts of reality television. If you're constantly exposed to a more extensive vocabulary than you are accustomed to, you will start to use those words in your everyday speech.
2006-09-10 04:52:56 · answer #7 · answered by medellia1984 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋