COMM 130 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Jargon, Active Voice
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Use humor: a funny story can help establish rapport, it can possibly disarm a hostile audience, use uncomplicated, straightforward talk, simple words can replace or compliment big words that often confuse and lose an audience. Limit your use of jargon and acronyms: define specialized jargon and acronyms for the audience, use professional jargon sparingly. Pronounce names and words accurately: credibility suffers when the audience catches a speaker mispronouncing, how do you pronounce: herbal, fa ade, ode words or names (excessively) Use imaginative imagery: similes (expressed analogy) and metaphors (implied. Choose the active voice: expresses ideas more strongly than the passive voice: passive voice: can you please take out your notebooks, active voice: everyone take out your notebooks. Try to use bias-free language: choose words that show respect for diverse members of your audience. See if you can identify alternatives to these labels: old people, drunk, stupid.
