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Finally, let’s talk about expletives, otherwise how offensive you might appear to others.
known as swear words. Ordinarily in our speeches, Here is a final note about clarity. Growing
we strive for politeness as well as brevity. However, up with my facial paralysis, speech therapy
in Toastmasters we have a particular style of was of paramount importance in order for me
speaking that is often best used for boardrooms or to speak more clearly. I’ve commented in past
other professional venues. For people coming into articles about the irony of a person with a speech
Toastmasters who might be used to more informal impediment teaching others how to create great
environments where the speech is more relaxed, speeches, but there’s some truth to this as well. I
learning to interact on a professional level may have lived with euphemisms about disabilities my
prove challenging. Yes, sometimes expletives can entire life. Believe me, there’s nothing worse than
be used to punctuate a point, and again, depending coming to school with people believing you’re less
upon the audience, it might even evoke laughter capable than others when you’re trying to prove
or, at the very least, cause people to pay attention differently. Learning how to speak clearly isn’t
a bit more. However, the reverse can also happen. simply about becoming more educated. For many
By using expletives, even if the person is highly of us, it’s a survival mechanism that allows us to
educated, the audience may perceive the individual move forward with our professional and personal
as being less intelligent or capable than they lives, even if we doubt our own abilities to be clear
expected. Depending on the language being used, and concise with other people. When we talk
others may take offense. Even if the language you’re about avoiding the use of euphemisms, slang, and
using is relatively mild, keep in mind that what you expletives in our speech, it’s not so much about
say and how you say it affect people’s perception taking words and phrases out as it is learning how
of you. If you’re prone to using expletives, look for to add in those that allow the audience to connect
ways to express the topic in clearer language that with us on a more personal level. Take the time
emphasizes the points you want to make. There’s to create clear, concise speeches with a focus on
always another way to express yourself that focuses relatable language and references. Your audience
the attention on the topic at hand rather than on will thank you for it.
VOICES! | FEBRUARY 2023 39
