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

Play video vivid language 353

imagery 354

Play video figurative language 355

anaphora 355

Play video antithesis 355

Play video simile 356

Play video metaphor 356

biased language 357

stereotype 357

gender-neutral term 359

Review Questions

  1. Question

    How does a speaker’s choice of words affect his or her credibility?

  2. Question

    Describe three ways in which oral language differs from written language.

  3. Question

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

  4. Question

    What four qualities ensure clear language?

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    Question

    Describe five tools you can use to express your ideas more effectively.

  6. Question

    Explain four steps you can take to ensure that the language you use is unbiased and respectful.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Question

    Think of a topic you might describe at fifty feet. How might you describe or explain the same topic at five thousand feet?

  2. Question

    Is the dictionary your only tool for checking that you understand a word’s meaning and have used (and pronounced) it properly? How else can you assess connotative meanings that might be associated with a particular word?

  3. Question

    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?
    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

    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?
    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

    Consider three examples of jargon that you use with your friends. Then try explaining them in ways that make them understandable to other people.
    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 1

  2. Question

    Open a dictionary at random, and look at one particularly long entry. How many different meanings are listed for the word you found? How do the meanings vary? Can you think of any connotative meanings not listed in the dictionary?
    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 2

  3. Question

    Find a news article that references a relatively complicated study, a piece of legislation, or a reputable survey. Compare the news article with the original item (which you can usually find through a Web link or search). How different is the language presented in each? What choices has the news writer made in deciphering the study, legislation, or survey for a more general audience?
    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 3

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    Question

    Think about a funny and engaging story that you enjoy telling about yourself or your family. How might you use such a story or anecdote to illustrate a point in a speech? What kinds of topics might your story or anecdote lend itself to?
    Chapter 12 - Activity Question 4