| "I'm sorry, what? I can't understand you." Have | | | | making very basic grammatical errors. |
| you ever heard this line? Then you probably know | | | | 5) Use Clear Consonants |
| how embarrassing it can be to repeat something | | | | Here are a few examples of commonly confused |
| over and over again. Miscommunication can and | | | | consonant sounds: /b/ & /p/, /d/ & /t/, /g/ & |
| will hold you back in today's fast-paced, | | | | k/, /v/ & /f/. The first sound in each pair is |
| international business environment. Too many | | | | voiced, whereas the second sound is voiceless. |
| people are hiding their gifts, talents and knowledge | | | | Place your hand in front of your mouth while you |
| from the world due to a fear of speaking up and | | | | say these pairs out loud: gate/Kate, girl/curl, game |
| being misunderstood. Are you one of them? | | | | came. |
| Follow these simple tricks to instantly improve the | | | | If you are articulating the /g/ and /k/ sounds |
| clarity of your speech. | | | | correctly, you should feel an explosion of air when |
| 1) Slow Down | | | | you make the /k/ sound. |
| It is common sense, really; the faster you speak, | | | | 6) Use Consistent Word Stress |
| the harder it is for your listener to understand. | | | | To a native English speaker, a certain word stress |
| The easiest way to instantly increase the clarity | | | | is considered appropriate or inappropriate |
| of your speech is to simply slow down. | | | | depending on where the person is from. |
| 2) Pause | | | | "Inappropriate" word stress can really rub listeners |
| Pauses are effective little tools that can be | | | | the wrong way because it deviates from their |
| employed in a number of situations. Use them to | | | | norm and indicates that the speaker is an "other" |
| clearly separate sentences and when changing | | | | - an outsider. This can be quite FRUStrating (US) |
| topics. | | | | frusTRATing (UK) for the non-native speaker |
| 3) Speak Up | | | | who is just trying to get his point across. |
| If you want to say something, really say it! Stand | | | | "So which variety is correct?" I always |
| up straight, take a deep breath and speak on the | | | | recommend sticking to the form you are most |
| exhale. Don't cover your mouth with your hands, | | | | comfortable with. Try to be consistent with |
| a book or your notes. Make eye contact with | | | | whichever variety suits you best. |
| your listeners and speak directly to them, not | | | | 7. Speak Simply |
| down to the floor or to your slides. | | | | Never use a long word where a short one will do. |
| 4) Articulate Word Endings | | | | This is a common rule most people have heard, |
| In our haste to get our messages out, we often | | | | but unfortunately very few put it into practice. |
| times fail to enunciate word endings - the | | | | Your main goal in every spoken interaction should |
| grammatical markers at the ends of words, such | | | | be to have your message understood. Do this by |
| as the plural 's' or past tense 'ed.' If you don't | | | | simplifying your vocabulary and using common |
| articulate these sounds, it sounds like you're | | | | English words. |