Newsletter October 09

Wallow in your words

Wallowing in your words is beneficial if you talk too fast, and if you want to add emphasis to your speaking.

If you have the tendency to speak quickly it makes it difficult for people to take on board your message. It will also give the impression that you are not confident. Being able to slow down and wallow in your words is a useful skill to learn.

One strategy for slowing down is to practise giving a presentation. Give a small part of it and time yourself for one minute. Then give the same part of this presentation, aiming to take one minute ten seconds to say it.

Think through what you will have to do to make it last longer.

For example:

• You may speak slightly slower throughout your speaking time. Imagine you are talking to a group who find your accent difficult to grasp. Speak at a speed that will help them understand your message

• You may include pauses at the end of each section. You could mentally count to three at the end of each sentence. It may seem a long time to you, but will be barely noticeable by the audience. You may like to move from one part of the speaking area to another at the end of a section. This will allow you to pause and will also show the audience that you are moving onto a new point.

• Move your hands as you speak at the speed you want to talk at. Your voice will adjust to the speed of your hand movements

Wallowing in your words is an effective way to give emphasis to what you are saying. Use it for the most important parts of your message. It will give those parts more weight.

Imagine you were saying the following text as a part of your presentation: ‘We were shocked when we visited the remote village in the north of the country. Two hundred people had been infected with HIV in the last six months. There are only eight hundred people in the whole area. Two hundred people.’

If we were to say this at a constant speed, it would be less effective than saying it where we wallowed in our words for the most important parts.

For example we may wallow in the words “Two hundred people ……. eight hundred people …… Two hundred people.”

Try saying it both ways and notice the difference.

Happy speaking!