Copyright (c) 2008 Lynda Stucky

You don't have to be a professional speaker making keynote speeches to achieve a new level of speaking. Whether you are a seasoned speaker or just beginning, knowing your strengths and developmental needs are an important first step for beginning to make changes.

Here's the problem, some people never even realize that certain behaviors create listener boredom and automatically send the listener to tune-out mode. Others have habits that reduce credibility and will eliminate hopes for promotions. This article covers the important aspect of speech called diction.

The way we pronounce words is dependant upon the way in which the general population pronounces the words. But a dictionary can be a valuable tool to learn how to pronounce words. Pronunciation in the dictionary is represented by symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The IPA can be confusing.

The IPA uses symbols for every sound in English. This is different from our regular alphabet in which one symbol stands for many sounds. For example, the letter /e/ can be pronounced as a long or short /e/ (beet vs. bet) with multiple spelling variations. Many dictionaries use the IPA system to help readers figure out how to pronounce words.

Evaluating your pronunciation and diction is important. You may need to adopt new speech habits which will require perseverence and determination. Here are some common mistakes:

1. Omitting /l/ "Already"="awready"

2. Substituting /t/ with /d/ "letter"="ledder" "quantity"="quanidy"

3."Our"='r' "R boss is a really nice guy."

4. Reducing words by eliminating sounds. Here is a short list of some commonly shortened words. Sharpen your pronunciation and diction by practicing the correct pronunciation (you may have many others to add):

Almond (amond)--picture (pitcher)--supposedly (supposebly)--temperature (temprature)-- laboratory (labratory)--hospitable (hosptable)"Probably"="Probly"

5. Shortening/changing vowels in running speech. For example:
a. "For"="fer" "The phone is fer you."
b. "To"="tuh" "I'm going tuh the store."
c. "Just"="jist" "Jist a minute..."
d. "you"="ya" "I'll see ya at the meeting."

6. Reducing other sounds like, "Going to"="gonna" "Want to"="wanna," "Didn't:"="dint," "wouldn't"="wunt"

What can be done to ensure that correct pronunciation of words? There are a few simple things to try to speak more clearly. Here are some suggestions:

1. Put endings on words.
2. Lengthen the vowels of stressed words.
3. Exaggerate your mouth opening to articulate more precisely.
4. Practice saying tongue twisters to "warm-up" your articulators:

a. Rubber baby buggy bumpers.
b. Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles sticks.
c. Can cotton candy coat clean cold combs?
d. A noisy noise annoys an oyster.

Practice these tongue twisters and gradually increase the speed until are every sound and word is precisely pronounced even at a faster rate. As you go faster, notice how exaggerated mouth movements are key to hitting the sounds accurately.

A great way to get feedback about your speaking skills is to tape record your end of a phone conversation. Keep the recorder at your desk and when you make a call, hit the record. After the conversation, listen to the recording. Listen to your diction and pronounciation of words. Is your speech clear and precise? This can be a humbling experience but it is often motivates one to make changes.


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Lynda Stucky is an expert at working with people who want to speak with clarity, credibility, and influence. President and owner of ClearlySpeaking, her background in speech pathology offers unique skills for consulting business professionals on communication skills including accent modification (regional and foreign), voice care, vocal dynamics, diction, grammar and how to speak concisely. http://www.clearly-speaking.com