Printed Page 356

Vivid language grabs the attention of your audience with words and phrases that appeal to all the senses—sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste. The following examples from an autobiographical presentation illustrate the difference between ordinary and vivid word choice. In the first example, Jamie describes his childhood years with his family in relatively uninspiring language:

I remember those mornings at home only too well. Mom would call us if we overslept. She was downstairs making breakfast, every morning at eight o’clock sharp. My brothers and I would fight to be the first into the bathroom.

Now consider this more vivid version of Jamie’s story:

Mornings were memorable in my house. It was always cold in the room I shared with my brothers. With no curtains on our windows, light would stream in, poking us in the eyes before Mom ever called us down for breakfast. The smell of bacon wafting upstairs did the rest. Routinely we shoved one another, forming a line outside the bathroom, knowing Mom would demand to know if we had washed up before coming to the table.

The second version conveys the same basic information as the first. However, it paints a more graphic picture of the scene, with stronger imagery—mental pictures or impressions—for the audience. We can see the bright light. We can also smell the bacon and hear Mom’s voice.

To use vivid language, select descriptive words that evoke pictures, smells, textures, sounds, and flavors in your listeners’ minds. But use such language sparingly. If you overuse it, it may lose its effect.