Chapter 12 Review

“Choose your words carefully.”

As Marvin’s story revealed, word choice can make or break the effectiveness of your speech. In this chapter, we explained how to use language to clarify your message, captivate your audience, and enhance your credibility. Key practices include understanding the denotative and connotative meanings of words and evoking those meanings strategically. We also offered ideas for presenting your message clearly—including using understandable language and concrete words, employing words properly, and adopting concise language. And we suggested that to infuse your speech with color and evocative imagery, you can use devices such as repetition, hypothetical examples, personal anecdotes, vivid language, and various forms of figurative language. Finally, we addressed the importance of using unbiased language to show respect for your listeners. Suggestions on this front include avoiding stereotypes; using gender-neutral references; referring to ethnic groups appropriately; and avoiding references to ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexuality that are irrelevant to a point you’re making.

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LaunchPad for Speak Up offers videos and encourages self-assessment through adaptive quizzing. Look for the check icon and play icon throughout the chapter for adaptive quizzing and online video activities.

Key Terms

word choice (diction) 336

denotative meaning 341

connotative meaning 342

jargon 344

concrete word 345

abstract word 345

verbal clutter 349

hypothetical example 351

vivid language 353

imagery 354

figurative language 355

anaphora 355

antithesis 355

simile 356

metaphor 356

biased language 357

stereotype 357

gender-neutral term 359

Review Questions

  1. Question

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  2. Question

    4moLbGRBee+iSK1Coot8v95nmIeYwCV6/xmozP1zUa9qiHjId6zlXD4Dq8t9YpbFb+ZO6Dhh/dwBu10j/HGmB/dlxRcFxx3DOarhDKiVqrI=

  3. Question

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    Define denotative meaning and connotative meaning, and describe the differences between the two.

  4. Question

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  5. 364

    Question

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  6. Question

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Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Question

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  2. Question

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  3. Question

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    When is it appropriate to use a rhetorical figure of speech known as antithesis? What advantages does it offer a speaker? How would you use antithesis?

  4. Question

    lS48Sl2PgduAH0mDyg824pBfOEB49KTJNiaBK7rcR/Z46dODLtnWjerW22ChntmSiXM7DX8FpO7xrkQaICj/WtgacS5CMDBaznSQm1ZMZvEaW1HyS/wTeGQpq7164xxVEav892fpAX3Tm0MEglGPGjbfum/Udd5ZWMSJTA4Rprulak1+25ZOCyiNWMOGyCBQqsBFfxtsPINqGJ3baMooIU3KP1flb9h7B2JDmKayybqfJQgpH6hswHpKSUqOlfqGnpeMszFL52Msp3sWHqrn6RJebgw5CaVUFJrbJrrCAgmISG8VMlWSWHua3MQciYzm3VHDgN+Zd6HCpgiw24Mx6TZfju9qgEsJIe7Azns7YYHRFee8tHBuvHJFqdaVavv3x2ZAfgyxUsjzYvqekazWOg+qc+8M8cWiQfkzOSARM8LiPumj
    What does the term politically correct mean to you? Are words like fireman and cleaning lady merely offensive to some people, or are they inaccurate? Are there any words that would offend you if they came up in a speech? Are there any politically correct terms that bother you? Why or why not?

Activities

  1. Question

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    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 1

  2. Question

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    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 2

  3. Question

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    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 3

  4. 365

    Question

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    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 4