English Speaking: The Grammar is in the Pronunciation

It is so simple.  It took a genius linguist and priest to point out the obvious.  He said: “Now I understand.  I want better grammar.  You want me to get perfect pronunciation because the grammar is in the pronunciation!”

“Exactly!” I told him.

Part one of understanding this critical point.

Grammar “s”:  We place an “s” at the end of words

• For plurals, “One cat. Three cats. “
• For subject and verb agreement, “I sing. She sings.”
• For possessive, “The car belongs to Russ.  Russ’s car.”

Grammar “ed”: We place an “ed” at the end of regular verbs to make past tense

• Today, I watch a soccer game.  Yesterday, I watched a soccer game.
• Today, I greet the guests.  Yesterday, I greeted the guests.

The issue is simple.  In order to have accurate grammar in your speech, you need to say the grammar “s” very clearly.  Do you want accurate plural grammar, subject and verb agreement grammar, and possessive grammar?  Then say the grammar “s” clearly and accurately.  Oh yes, there are pronunciation rules for the grammar “s.”

Do you want accurate past tense for verbs?  That’s so important, because when something happens is critical to our understanding of events.  To get accurate past tense for most of American English verbs, you need to get the pronunciation of the grammar “ed” correct.  Yes, yes.  Rules there, also.  

Rules you ask?

American English rules go like this:

For the Grammar “s,” if the root word….

• Ends with a voiceless sound, the “s” is pronounced voiceless.
• Ends with a voiced sound, the “s” is also voiced and sounds like a “z”.
• Ends with s, z, sh, ch, or j, plural “s” is pronounced as “ez” or a short “e” and an “s” with a voice.

For the Grammar “ed,” always spell past tense with regular verbs with “ed,” but:

• Pronounce as an “ed” for words ending in a “t” or a “d” sound
• Pronounced as a “d” for all other words

More on “the grammar is in the pronunciation” next time.

Click here: www.cleartalkmastery.com/scheduler to sign up for a Free Sample Lesson with us! 

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.

Conclusion for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning

 The natural tendency of human beings is to:

•  Justify on facts, but buy on feeling
•  Justify with business reasons, but buy for personal reasons
•  Justify with logic, but buy on emotion

Presentation Skills: The Pause – The Silent Moment that Packs a Punch

“Pauses can achieve an effect that no combination of words could ever accomplish!”  -paraphrased from Mark Twain

You’ve seen master comedians  break up a crowd with a well-timed pause.  Today’s young comedians study the great– the late Jack Benny, Johnny Carson.  The well-timed pause is the tool of smart speakers.

So, where can you pause?

• After introductory phrases or clauses

“Even though the city council meetings went well,  (pause) the  city administrators and supervisors still feel uneasy.”

• Before conjunctions (but, or, and, because, et cetera)

“We strongly urged them to revise the two year plan  (pause), but they didn’t take our advice.”

• When citing a list of items

“We’ll need to call the vendors (pause), review our orders  (pause), double-check the fine print of our contracts(pause), refine the timetable (pause), and allow time to make changes.

• When you want to inspire audience attention

Perhaps you wonder if this will affect you. (pause)  It will. (pause) Hard. (pause) Right in your bank account.

• When emotions overcome you and you want to regain composure

Senator Edward Kennedy gave a memorial speech at American University in Washington, D.C. three decades after his brother , President John F. Kennedy. He delivered smoothly until he began recalling stories about his late brother.  He became emotional, and then stopped talking– a long pause before he could continue.

• When an interruption catches the audience’s attention – or distracts your focus

When surprised by an unexpected interruption,  resist looking flustered. Simply pause to give yourself time to harness your thoughts.

Click here: www.cleartalkmastery.com/scheduler to sign up for a Free Sample Lesson with us! 

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.

Communication Skills and Changing Times

Times have changed.

Yesterday, the most qualified person got the job.

Today, among equal qualifications, the best communicator gets the job.

Presentation skills: Why you should consider using a full manuscript

Why should you do all the work of preparing a full manuscript for your speech?  Wouldn’t it be easier to “wing it?”

Here’s one compelling reason: CEOs of top corporations pay freelance speechwriters $3,000-$7,000 and more to write a speech.  They wouldn’t repeatedly do this unless they saw substantial gains on their investment.

Truth: a well-written speech manuscript delivers a powerful punch.

Here are important advantages:

• Guaranteed time frame

You don’t need to worry about running over your allotted time.  To determine the time for a manuscript speech, do this:

1)      Use your computer to get the total number of words.

2)      Divide by your rate of speaking.  For clear speech, this is likely to be about 100-110 words per minute.  For some, it will be 90 to 95 words per minute.

3)      Rehearse your speech and get a time so you’re as accurate as possible for the time length.

• Clear and focused message

A manuscript will prevent going off topic or being too wordy, making a stronger impression.

• Get it all

Is there anything worse than realizing after a speech that you forgot to say your most important point?

• Ease of delivery

Having a manuscript is calming.  You don’t have to worry about “going blank.”

• Accuracy

Avoided misspoken statistics.  Your speech is your first impression.  Flubs in statistics give a bad impression.

• Precise, powerful wording

Here’s the inside story of President Ronald Reagan who was praised as “the Great Communicator.”  That skill was apparent only when he used carefully scripted manuscripts. Otherwise, he often misspoke.

• Subtle meanings and nuances

Prevents poorly chosen words which make accidental meanings.

• Flexibility

You can add extemporaneous comments.  Skilled speakers regularly make last minute comments to add spontaneity.

• Professional appearance

Influential people hire speech writers to gain an advantage in communicating. You can rely on a well-written manuscript to gain that advantage.

• Greater credibility

A manuscript communicates authority.  Fact is, the audience knows you did your homework.

• Appropriate humor

Avoid the off-the-cuff jokes that might hurt your career or alienate your audience.

Next time: The Silent Moment that Packs a Punch

Click here: www.cleartalkmastery.com/scheduler to sign up for a Free Sample Lesson with us! 

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.