Welcome to the September Issue of Speaking-Out-Loud write-out-loud.com's monthly E-zine to help you effectively 'talk your walk'.

If this E-zine speaks to you, then quite likely it will talk sense to your friends, family or work mates too. Please pass it along.

You might even suggest that they sign up! The page to send them to is here Speaking-Out-Loud

Remember, if you have any questions you're most welcome to ask them through my contact form. I enjoy hearing from my readers and will respond as soon as I am able.

Happy speaking,

Susan

In this Issue

If you don't have time to read the whole ezine, click on the topic that interests you. This month you will find:

• Susan's Spiel

• English Pronunciation

• Public Speaking Warm-Ups

• Second Hand Words

Susan's Spiel

English Pronunciation

This month's Article is an interview with Mandy Egle, an English pronunciation expert.

Mandy's passion is helping people to successfully overcome communication barriers created by the way they pronounce their words.

She says she is not so much interested in the concept of accent reduction and would rather focus on training that enhances the overall quality of communication. That she says can spill over into all areas of a person's life.

If you are or someone you know is held back through the way you sound speaking English, this article is a must. It could be the spur you need to take control and make the changes needed to move on.

Public Speaking Warm-ups

Why is it that many public speakers assume that they can go into delivering a speech cold?

Find out what warm-ups could do for you. About ten minutes is all it takes and you will deliver more confidently and fluently.

Second Words Using Quotations

In the last while there's been a number of reader queries about where to source, why and how to use quotations in speeches, enough to re-issue this article which appeared in the November 2009 issue of Speaking Out Loud. It covers all of those questions.

I am always looking for ways to improve the site. If you see any errors or would like to contribute in any way, please accept this invitation to contact me through my About Me page.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy this month's Speaking-Out-Loud!

Happy speaking,

Susan

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Article

The consequences reverberate through all aspects of their lives. It impacts in their work places. Opportunities that could be available are not because communication difficulties get in the way and the same pattern is repeated in social settings.

The only way to stop alienation from settling in and allowing pronunciation to limit aspirations is to work at improving it.

Helping non-native speakers people hear the sounds and rhythms of English and reproduce them successfully is specialised work.

This month's interview is with Mandy Egle from the Seattle Learning Academy. Mandy holds a Masters Certificate in ESL studies from the Washington Academy of Languages and Seattle Pacific University. She teaches American English pronunciation to private and corporate clients on and offline. Her website pronuncian.com provides self-study options alongside an extensive and growing library of English pronunciation podcasts.

Amongst the questions I asked her was:"How does a person know if they need to work on reducing the impact of their accent?

Mandy's answer:"On rare occasions, people are told by their boss that they need to work on their American English pronunciation. That usually isn't how it goes, though.

There is no test, nor any simple statement like "If people ask you to repeat yourself more than 5 times per day then you need work on your American English pronunciation" or anything like that. It's a really personal decision based on personal circumstances.

If a person feels they are being held back professionally or even in personal relationships due to their speech patterns, it can be very helpful to learn more about American English pronunciation.

We tend to fear what we don't understand, so even an assessment can be helpful. It's scarier to think "People don't understand me" than to know "People don't understand me because I am not forming the 'r' sound like they expect."

If you need help with English pronunciation or you know someone who does Mandy's resources at pronuncian.com are a great starting point.

Read the interview to find out what sounds cause the most difficulty, how long it takes to establish better pronunciation patterns and how online or Skype sessions work.

For more about the importance of pronunciation and how you sound can profoundly influence your life's path please read my pages on vocal image and proper pronunciation.

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Public Speaking Warm-Ups

If somebody invited you to take part in 10 kilometre run and said it was starting soon, would you do it?

Would you shout, 'Yay!' and get right into it or would you say, 'Warm-ups first and I'll be there when I'm ready'.

It surprises me that many people assume because they speak everyday, thus exercising their talking equipment, that is enough. They don't need to do any more.

But everyday chatting is not the same as delivering a speech. Just as going for a walk down to the letter box isn't the equivalent of running 10 kilometres. Yes, you're using the same body parts but in completely different settings.

If you want to give your speech as effectively as you can, then warm-ups are definitely part of your preparation.

The benefits are minimizing the possibilites of stumbling over words, forgetting what was coming next, and succumbing to a fit of the nervous jitters. Warm-ups help you channel the natural adrenalin rush that comes from performing positively. Instead of being immobilised you can use it as fuel to boost your delivery.

A good warm-up session focuses on 3 areas:

• body
• breath
• voice

For the body try 'rag dolls'. Stand with your feet a shoulder width apart, breathe in through the nose and bending from the waist allow yourself to flop like a rag doll while breathing out through your mouth. Shake any tension out of your arms, neck, shoulders and allow yourself to literally hang loose. And then breathing in through your nose very gently and slowly bring yourself upright and breathe out through your mouth.

Shake-outs Shake out your arms, hands until you feel them warm and relaxed. Do the same for your legs.

For your shoulders, hunch them as high as your ears and then let go. Repeat until they are at ease.

For your neck, very smooth and gentle head rolls. Let your head flop foward and then slowly roll it up and around to the right and then back. Repeat for the left side.

For your face, scrunch it as tight as you can and then release.

For your jaw, yawn widely, letting all the tension it might hold go. Repeat. Massage any points of residual tension.

For your mouth, smile as wide as you can. Hold and release.

For your tongue, extend it as far as you can and now sweep it around the outside of your mouth - a complete rotation to the left and then another to the right. Repeat with your mouth closed, running your tongue around the outside of your teeth. Once to the left and then another to the right.

Breath

• Stand with your feet a comfortable shoulder width apart.
• Support the weight of your body through your hips and legs rather than locking your knees.
• Consciously release and relax your shoulders.
• If you're holding your stomach in, let it go.
• Place your hands on your stomach.
• Breathe in through your nose to the count of five. Count slowly. As you inhale feel your diaphragm rising.
• Breathe out through your mouth to the count of five and now feel your diaphragm expanding.
• Do several rounds of inhale and exhale while making sure you keep your shoulders, stomach and legs relaxed.

Click for more breathing excerises. You'll find variations adding sound and stretching.

Voice

To warm your voice and to ensure good articulation do a few rounds of tongue twisters. Pick the sounds you know you find the most challenging. You'll find a selection covering most of those tricky-to-say letter combinations.

In your lead up to speaking complete all of your stage and prop checks and then aim to give your self a minimum of ten minutes warm up exercises in a private quiet place before you take the stage. You'll find it works wonders for focusing, relaxing and settling any nervous tension.

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Second Hand Words

Using Quotations

We humans are a perverse group. We have deeply ingrained stigmas over using other people's castoffs like clothes or furniture but we have few qualms about second hand words. The best of these we pounce on to use over and over again because adding other people's words or quotations to our speeches can lift them from ordinary to inspiring.

Through a well chosen quotation we borrow from its original owner:

• clarity
• humor
• wisdom
• authority
• expertise
• glamor

Finding the right quotation to fit your speech is not that difficult if you're willing to spend some time sifting through quotation collections. There are many on the internet usually usefully divided into topic categories. Similarly you'll find books of them in your local library.

I have themed collections on my site for use in varying special occasion speeches.
These are:

• Thank you quotations for use in speeches expressing gratitude
• Retirement quotations for use in retirement speeches
• Milestone Birthday quotations marking attaining a special age for use in birthday speeches.
• Witty Birthday quotations to give a birthday speech a dash of humor
• Inspirational quotations to include in a eulogy or funeral speech

Once you've found a quotation you'd like to use consider how it fits your speech.

Does it fit the tone? For example, if your speech is light hearted, a serious and formal quotation may be out of place. The opposite is also true.

Does it add meaning, clarity, authority or wisdom? If it doesn't your quote may sound random and even silly. Give your quote context, a reason for being there.

Try your speech out loud. If the quotation doesn't sound right either find a way to make it fit or leave it out. Sometimes your words are better than anybody else's second hand ones! If you're unsure get someone to listen and give you feedback.

And a final word of warning, if you do use a quotation don't fall into the trap of trying to pass it off as your own. Somebody is bound to know it, particularly if you've picked it from a well used quotation site.

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Thank you for reading the September Issue of Speaking-Out-Loud. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to contact me with any questions through the form at the foot of the Speaking Out Loud Page. I love hearing from my readers!

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Until next time,
Happy speaking,

Susan

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