Reflections on Communication's Role in Our Happiness

Hey folks! It's been a while since I've had the time to write. Between the book (Public Speaking in the Semiosphere: Creating a Meaningful Experience for Your Audience ), the consulting through Semiosphere Consulting, speaking engagements with nice people like the Garden State Journalists Association and my full-time gig at Brookdale Community College, 2015 has been busy to say the least.

Yet as we say goodbye to another year and prepare to hit the ground running in 2016, this is an ideal time to pause and take a few minutes to reflect and reconnect. More often than not I use this space to talk about public speaking. Today though, I want to talk about communication at a different level. Basically I want to talk about life and the role communication plays in my own happiness, by looking at a few examples of communication choices that have made a difference for me.

I find my life filled with more blessings than I probably deserve and want to share some of them with you, with the hope that it might enrich your life.

Many of the great blessings in my life are from my students. We have an interesting relationship based on listening. At it's best, they listen to me, to hear what I have to share, give it meaning within the context of their own lives, and judge it's relevancy and usefulness. I on the other hand listen to their speeches, try to interpret what they mean, and judge their effectiveness as public speakers. I assess not only their delivery, but the substance of their ideas, and the manner in which they have encoded them for the listener. Their organizational strategies, language choices, and visual aids all come under scrutiny with the hope of helping them become more effective communicators.

And through their degree of success, I evaluate my own teaching methods to see what is working and what is not. All in all it is a mutually creative process designed to help each other communicate better. As such it is inherently enjoyable. Challenging? Oh yes! Both for the students and myself. We push each other to be better so that we will be more successful in the future. And therein lies the beauty of the process. Our motivation--mine anyway--is to help. I find when we frame our motivation as helping, it changes everything and becomes easier.

Another of the great blessings in my life is my relationship with my girlfriend. It's kind of a wonderful story. We were friends in grad school and were very fond of each other. Eventually we dated, but I had a significant problem with alcohol back then and, wisely, she chose to marry another man. We kept in touch, seeing each other annually at the National Communication Association convention, and occasional phone calls. She informed me last year that she was going through a divorce after 20+ years of marriage and through Facebook I tried to lend my support during what was a very difficult time for her. We planned a visit and things just seemed to click for us. Now sober, I had a whole new appreciation of this wonderful woman and thankfully she once again saw the good in me, and love blossomed.

It was our choice to stay in touch that made it all possible. Through maybe a half dozen phone calls over 20 years, our commitment to meeting for a meal at the convention each year, and a Facebook friend request, we maintained a relationship . During that time neither of us had even the faintest notion of a reconciliation. She was, after all, happily married. It was simply two old friends making a point to keep in touch over the years. This was something I have not always done with many friends, but now it is so easy to stay connected through Facebook and the various social media out there.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it is so important to stay in touch even occasionally with old friends, colleagues, and clients. We never know what the future may bring and with each person we encounter comes the potential for that special happiness only another human being can provide.

Finally, I heard from several former students over the holidays and was so pleased to hear how well they were doing. Now lawyers, executives, teachers, and performers I know in my heart that I played some small role in their success. Of course the majority of credit goes to the students and their parents, but I know that the skills they learned and the confidence they gained under my tutelage has served them well on their path to their current achievements. I take tremendous satisfaction in that and am grateful to have had the opportunity for a career in service to others.

And the lesson here is to realize that each moment we spend with others has the potential to influence them in a positive way. From the smallest act of kindness that helps them get through a rough day, to the sometimes tough-love of honest feedback. We are helping them on their path to tomorrow. The tone we set, the knowledge we share, the love we empower them with, all create the context of their life choices going forward.

So our communication choices really do matter. Each moment of our lives we make choices as to how we are going to perceive the the situation, and how we are going to express ourselves in response to it. And the choices we make today will create the tomorrow we find ourselves in.

As we turn the page on 2015, let us all resolve to make choices in 2016 that will lead to happiness and a sense of satisfaction in our personal and professional lives. When in doubt, choose to be supportive, loving, compassionate, and forgiving. We will certainly reap the rewards we sow through our communication choices. Happy New Year to everyone!

That's all for today. Be well and speak well. And as always, thank you for reading!

Chapter One Public Speaking in the Semiosphere: Creating a Meaningful Experience

Wanted to make all my readers aware that my new eBook, Public Speaking in the Semiosphere: Creating a Meaningful Experience for Your Audience is available through Amazon.com. It was written with my colleague Howard Miller.

Want a preview? Here's Chapter One.

Chapter 1: Speaking in the Semiosphere: Creating a Meaningful Experience

“Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event.”

Brian Tracy

What both speakers and audience members crave is a meaningful experience. One that changes us, inspires us. But how do we do that? Practically speaking, there are countless possibilities. But there are a few basic principles that can help to identify the opportunities for meaningful moments.

Get Personal

Put some of yourself into your speech. To an audience, you are a strange and exotic creature with the courage to stand up and speak. We want to know about you, who you are, and if we can relate to you. Sharing some of yourself demonstrates trust in the audience, and they will subconsciously reciprocate. That trust is the foundation of a meaningful experience.

Using your personal experience is a key technique for speaking in the semiosphere. Remember the diagram in the introduction. The degree to which your lived-world overlaps with your audience members’ lived-world is the degree to which you are successfully speaking in the semiosphere and creating a meaningful experience. By sharing your personal experience, you bring more of your lived-world to light for the audience. If you share nothing of yourself, the audience has no basis to relate to you. But if you share your experience, especially if you do this wisely and strategically, you become more human. They can relate to you. And maybe they even like you. You open up the possibility of establishing commonality, and thus, audience engagement.

There is a vulnerability to opening up and sharing something of yourself. It is not without risk. However, it is a risk worth taking because the payoff is great. There is certainly a line of what is appropriate self-disclosure and what is not, so be conscious of that boundary. In general though, people appreciate you opening up a bit. It is interesting.

Letting us behind the facade of your public persona to share the back stories to your life signifies an attempt at goodwill (unless you say something extremely distasteful or inappropriate for the occasion or audience). People like to get a glimpse behind the scenes and even into your personal life. They can relate--or they can't. But either way, they will have the engaged response we call a meaningful experience.

Tell Stories

Along those same lines, tell stories. People respond to stories in an emotional and physiological manner. Stories excite our imagination and our brains. Stories stick with us in a way that facts and figures do not. Most importantly, they hold our attention and will be remembered.

Chapter Nine on informative speaking is mostly about storytelling, because that’s the best way to teach people. Stories are all the rage in marketing, advertising, and public relations. That’s because professionals in those fields understand that stories are the most effective way to teach, inspire, and persuade. Storytelling is a skill you simply must develop if you are going to be a great speaker. Some people are natural storytellers, some need to learn how to do it effectively. The good news is that we all do it, probably daily. When you come home and tell your spouse about your day, you’re actually telling the story of that day. You tell everyone about your great vacation, with stories. You can do this, and with some work, do it very well.

And to build on the previous point, personal stories are particularly effective. They are the best types of stories, easiest to remember and tell well, and you get to define the the story’s meaning to draw out the point you want to make.

Empathize with Your Audience’s Concerns

Your audience is the reason you speak. What do they need that you can help them with? Presumably you are there to give them something they need. Clearly identify and address those needs. We will talk at some length throughout this book about the importance of your audience and connecting with them, giving them a reason to listen, and enhancing their lives with your message. For now though, just realize that you have to give your audience something they value. To do so, you need to think about their lives and what they want and need to live their lives more effectively and efficiently

If you are speaking on a work-related occasion, for example, it is important that the audience leaves your speech thinking their work is more important/meaningful/satisfying than they did before you spoke. I once worked as a recruiter, a headhunter really. In brief, we were poaching people from one company and helping them land in the next. Once, a speaker came in to discuss some of the ways we could improve our numbers (make more money), and I remember getting up after his talk thinking that the work I was doing was as important as anyone’s in the world. Before the speech, I thought I had a job as a recruiter. After it, I felt like I was changing lives. And the expectant motivation followed.

Whatever the circumstances that brought them to listen to you, acknowledge that their efforts are meaningful and significant. Acknowledge the challenges they face, and offer something to help them meet and overcome those challenges. There must be something in it for your audience, some incentive to get them to listen closely to you.

Offer Strong Visual Support

This is the opposite of death by PowerPoint. A photographic image can be a powerful thing. It can anger or amuse, educate or inspire. Carefully selected visual support can leave a lasting memory in the audience’s mind, and being memorable is essential to being meaningful.

We have devoted Chapter Twelve to how to use visual aids effectively. If you are able to do this, you will immediately distinguish yourself from the myriad presenters who use PowerPoint poorly. You’ll send a sign early on that your talk is something special. It’s not the same old, same old with slides filled with text and data that no one really cares about or is meaningfully connected to. You will quickly stand out as someone who gets it, and audiences will know they’re in for something unique and special because you are maximizing the visual potential of your topic.

Highlight Values or an Ethical Dimension

In our world of increasing moral ambiguity, political correctness, and blurred lines between right and wrong, people have a hunger for ethical discourse. We bring this up not to lecture to you about what constitutes ethical rhetoric, but to encourage you develop a rhetorical ethic. This is a distinction Professor Richard L. Lanigan points out in his book Semiotic Phenomenology of Rhetoric. It’s about embodying an informed understanding of one’s ethical value system, not preaching what others should believe. It’s about being ethical yourself in your consideration of issues and how your share them.

So when we say to highlight values or an ethical dimension, we are not encouraging you to preach with moral certitude as to how others should live their lives. Rather, we are suggesting that you not shy away from ethical issues. In fact, you can highlight the ethical dilemma in question for your audience. As you tell the story, call attention to the ethical quandary the subject of the story faces. When a choice is framed with an ethical dimension, most people will opt for the right interpretation and do the right thing. Some may disagree as to what the right choice is, but if you anticipate such disagreement you can include it as a consideration for their deliberation.

All people have values, relatively stable long-term beliefs about right and wrong, as well as what is important in life. Tying your message to things that people value is a key to creating a meaningful experience. We will talk more about values in Chapter Ten on persuasion. At this point simply recognize that people will find things they value meaningful to listen to and think about.

Furthermore, people like to be reminded that they are doing the right thing, not necessarily doing things the easy way. When you have the opportunity recognize those in your audience who have done exceptional things, do so. Applaud their strong moral compass. We all want and need to be inspired, to do better and to be better people. It is the nature of all living things to grow and progress. Appeal to your audience’s ideals, appeal to the best within them. You will see the lights go on in their eyes because you are creating a meaningful experience.

Don’t Take Your Audience’s Time Lightly

No matter how wonderful your presentation, if you fail to meet audience expectation, particularly in regard to time, they can leave the room disappointed. Maybe even angry.

A number of years ago I attended a presentation by a speaker who was one of the country’s foremost experts on his particular topic, so I was incredibly excited to hear his ideas. After 35 minutes of his presentation, which was scheduled for 45 minutes, he wasn’t disappointing. He was truly an incredible speaker. And so when he said, “in conclusion,” anyone listening understood his presentation was about to come to an end.

Another 30 minutes later, he finally stopped talking. I can’t tell you what he said in the last 20 minutes or so. I had stopped listening. So had the rest of the audience. The speaker even noticed we had. He acknowledged that it had been a long day that we were losing steam. Little did he know that he was making our long day so much longer.

One of the best speeches I had ever heard turned into one of the worst just because the speaker ignored time. He made the terrible mistake of thinking he was so great that we no longer cared about our time. He was wrong.

When you have to deliver a speech, make sure you know how much time you’re allotted. And make sure you speak within that time frame.

Speak Extemporaneously

Extemporaneous speech is natural, conversational speech. It’s real, it’s direct, it’s you speaking in your own voice. When you write a script, you read your message. When you speak extemporaneously, the message originates from you, in that moment, with that particular audience in mind. This is an essential prerequisite to authenticity. Your audience will not connect in a meaningful way to you or your message if they feel it is inauthentic. Speaking extemporaneously is a must for meaningful authentic public communication.

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The suggestions in this chapter are just capsules of the kind of analysis a good speaker conducts. They can be taken in countless directions to suit the needs of most anyone and most any audience. Employ them, and you will be on your way to transforming your communication and creating a meaningful experience for both yourself and your audience.

My New Public Speaking Book Will Help You...Guaranteed!

I am really excited to announce that my new book Public Speaking in the Semiosphere: Creating a Meaningful Experience for Your Audience is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. It will be officially released on April 30th, 2015. Written with my colleague Howard Miller, the book promises to help make you a speaker distinguished by your authenticity and ability to present meaningful messages.

At the root of our approach is a semiotic sensibility. My graduate work in Communicology  focused on semiotics (the study of signs and how people give meaning to the world around them). As a result I have always had a slightly different approach to public speaking than most. Rather than teach people to conform to arbitrary conventions, I encourage them to create "signs" that the audience will interpret positively. This perspective results in a presentation that resonates with the audience.

Have you ever seen  speakers that breaks all the "rules" and yet are tremendously successful and/or popular? That's because they made choices to create something unique to them and their style. They chose to create a meaningful experience for both themselves and the audience. We will teach you to do the same.

Audience members perceive your speech through the lens of their own lived-world. One of the keys to creating meaningful experiences is to tap into their lived-world as you select material. In the book, right in Chapter One, I lay out multiple techniques for creating a meaningful experience.

This really is a unique and valuable resource for speakers from all walks of life. Whether you are a teacher, student, preacher,politician, lawyer, or business person you will want to read this book. Short easy-to-read chapters range from overcoming anxiety about speaking, to how to use visual aids in a manner people will love (avoiding the dreaded "Death by PowerPoint"). It also features chapters devoted to informative speaking, persuasive speaking, and speaking on special occasions.

We aim to train you you to speak extemporaneously, not read scripts or PowerPoint slides. Extemporaneous speech is natural and conversational, with the vocal variety essential to engage listeners. We take you through the entire speech preparation and delivery process.

If you do any kind of public speaking, even a one-time wedding toast, do yourself a favor and check out this book. I promise you it will result in a great experience for both you and your audience!

The Role of Storytelling in Public Speaking

Today's Special Guest Blogger is Dr. Sharon Bebout Carr, one of the countries foremost authorities on Storytelling and Performance. Please visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/storiedworlds 

The Role of Storytelling in Public Speaking

By Dr. Sharon Bebout Carr

As speakers, we are always looking for an edge.  We browbeat our audience with statistical data, because we know that statistics can sound impressive and make it look like we really did our research.  We put together power point presentations because we know that visual reinforcement helps audiences remember and process our information.  We dress professionally to introduce ourselves through signs as serious and competent communicators.  We practice enunciation and pronunciation so that we will be more easily understood.   The list goes on and on.  All of these strategies have their place and can help to promote a speaker’s success.  But if I had to choose one strategy that I would incorporate in every speech because of its multiplicity of benefits, it would be storytelling.

Storytelling is a powerful public speaking tool for three important reasons:  it provides compelling support for claims, because it humanizes your message and utilizes specificity; it helps establish a rapport between you and the audience because it reveals something important about you; and it invites your audience to make associations between your topic and their own past experiences.  To illustrate these claims, I would like for you to consider three possible introductions to a speech about the hazards inherent in coal mining.

Introduction #1:  Despite the continued improvements to coal mining safety, coal mining remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the world.  As a matter of fact, people still die in mining accidents with astonishing frequency.

Introduction #2:  Many of you sitting in the audience today may know someone who works in a dangerous profession.  I know I do.  I am a coal miner’s daughter.

Introduction #3   Johnny was a coal miner.  One night he was working, shoveling coal onto a belt and something went wrong, so he turned off the belt to do some maintenance.  Another miner came along, who didn’t know why the belt was off and turned it back on.  Johnny was caught in the belt and killed.  He was 20 years old.   He was my baby brother.  His is only one of the stories behind the headlines about mining accidents and the quest for mining safety.

I think all of the above introductions can capture an audience’s attention, but the last one is the most likely to keep them involved.  The first introduction lacks detail.  It doesn’t ask your audience to do any of the work.  It doesn’t say anything about your connection to your topic. 

The second introduction is harder to dismiss, because it asks the audience to think about people they know who are in harm’s way and establishes your connection to the topic.

The third introduction, however, has the most universal appeal.  First of all, a person’s story causes us to form associations with our own experiences.   To tell a story is to give a human face to experience.  It appeals to us on an emotional, as well as an intellectual level.  That immediately makes us, as audience members, more willing to walk across the bridge into a new experience.  Your audience may not have any connection to coal mining, but they have a connection to you, as a particular human being standing in front of them.  They also have a connection to the universals that reside within a specific relating of experience.  They may not know coal miners, but they know people that matter to them, that have names and places in their lives. 

Stories are powerful.  They are full of details.  They connect us to the emotional underpinnings of ideas.  They open doors to our own stories and cause us to interact more fully with what might otherwise be an alien experience.

Remember that stories are at the root of the human experience.  They are how we learn, they are how we remember, they are how we make meaning of our lives.  I can turn away from statistics—they do not move me.  I can become bored with power point presentations that lack creativity.  I may even distrust the “polished” sounds of rehearsed speech.  But I will always listen to a story, no matter how poorly told, because it calls to other stories inside of me.

The best speakers know that a speech is not a presentation or a transaction, but an interaction.  Stories call to other stories, and that opens the door to participation and understanding. 

For more information about Dr. Carr's Consulting and Storytelling workshops visit her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/storiedworlds

How Long Should You Speak?

This is the first of several guest blog posts by my colleague Howard Miller of Brookdale Community College. 

A number of years ago I helped to organize a conference. It was kind of a big deal, or at least I thought so. The culmination of the three-day event was a presentation by a true expert in the field, which I wildly anticipated.

Then came the end of the third day. If you've ever organized a conference or even attended one, you know that you can get pretty conferenced-out toward the end. So I was kind of dreading something I had so looked forward to.

That dread quickly changed to excitement when the keynote began. The speaker was brilliant and eloquent. At a certain point in the presentation, I was actually thinking about it as a speech critic and considering it the best speech I’d ever heard. Then it happened. About 30 minutes into a 45 minute presentation. I heard those magic words – “In conclusion…” Not only was this the best presentation I’d ever heard, but I was also going to get out early. What a treat!

Of course, this wouldn't be much of a blog post if that’s how the story ended.

Rather than getting out early, the speaker continued for about 30 more minutes. This was both in excess of the audience’s original expectation, and it was well in excess of the time he implied he’d take when he told us he was concluding. The speech went from one of the best I’d ever heard to one of the worst.

This anecdote illustrates how critical it is for you to consider the time allotted for your presentation.

In Dan’s blog, he talks a lot about audience. Well, there’s one area where you don’t need to analyze the audience too much – time. All audiences think their time is important, and nobody wants to feel like their time is wasted. Thus, it’s your job to contain your presentation within the allotted period.

When you’re asked to deliver a presentation, always ask how long you have. Such knowledge will let you prepare properly, and it’s critical to your ability to deliver what the audience needs. If you’re expected to speak for 15 minutes and you take 20, the audience may become annoyed. If you take 30, they may become downright angry. Not pitchfork angry, but if you don’t get another opportunity at that venue, you’ll know why.

If someone has been kind enough to give you a few minutes to speak, reward them by taking no more of their time. They’ll appreciate it, and you’ll increase your chances for a return engagement.

If you have too much to say, edit your work. Never increase your rate so you can get everything in. Rather, focus on what the audience truly needs to understand. When we put hour upon hour into research and study and labor, we can begin to fall in love with our work. It’s important to remember, though, that your audience needs your information, not your every emotion surrounding your work.

If you’re in charge, you might think everything is different. It’s not. Your employees or staff will appreciate that you have respect for their time. And it stands to reason that people will work harder for someone who they respect.

And finally, if you’re an invited speaker, you know that much of the audience may be there to see you. Revel in that if you like. Once you've done so, now remember that your audience, no matter how much they want to hear from you, would rather see their loved ones when they were planning on it. So please, meet the expectations of the audience, and speak only within the allotted period.

It seems I’m running out of time myself. So as Dan would say, be well, speak well, and as always, thanks for reading! If you are interested in learning more about Dan Leyes’ private and group consulting see Semiosphere Consulting.

Creating a Meaningful Experience

What both speakers and audience members crave is a meaningful experience. One that changes us, inspires us. If I can create a meaningful experience for my audience I know they will have loved my presentation. That is my goal, and achieving it is one of the things that makes my life meaningful.

But how do we do that? Practically speaking there are countless possibilities. But there are a few basic principles that can be helpful to identify the opportunities for meaningful moments.

Get Personal
Put some of yourself into your speech. To an audience you are a strange and exotic creature, with the courage to stand up and speak. We want to know about you, who you are and if we can relate to you. Sharing some of yourself is demonstrating trust in the audience, and they will subconsciously reciprocate. That trust is the foundation of a meaningful experience.

Tell Stories
Along those same lines, tell stories. People respond to stories in an emotional and physiological manner. They excite our imagination and our brains. Stories stick with us in a way that facts and figures do not. Most importantly they hold your audience's attention and will be remembered.

Empathize with your Audience's Concerns
Your audience is the reason you speak. What do they need that you can help them with? One of those things is finding their work meaningful, both in the respect you treat it with and the satisfaction they should draw from doing it. On another level, presumably you are there to give them something they need. Clearly identify and address those needs,

Offer Strong Visual Support
This is the opposite of death by PowerPoint. A photographic image can be a powerful thing. It can anger or amuse, educate or inspire. Carefully selected visual support can leave a lasting memory in the audience's mind, and being memorable is essential to being meaningful.

Highlight Values or an Ethical Dimension
All people have values. They are relatively stable long-term beliefs about what is important in life. Tying your message to things that people value is a key to creating a meaningful experience. Furthermore people like to be reminded that they are "doing the right thing", and to be recognized for doing the right thing, not necessarily doing things the easy way. Appeal to their strong moral compass.

Inspire Toward Self-Improvement
We all want and need to be inspired, to do better and to be better people. It is the nature of all living things to grow and progress over time. Appeal to our ideals, appeal to the best within us. You will see the lights go on in their eyes because you are creating a meaningful experience.

These are just capsules of the kind of analysis a good speechwriter conducts. They can be taken in countless directions to suit the needs of most any speaker and any audience if looked at in the right way. But employ them and you will transform your communication and create a meaningful experience for both yourself and your audience.

That's all for today folks. Be well, speak well, and as always, thanks for reading! Those interested in Dan Leyes' consulting work should visit Semiosphere Consulting.

Getting the Most Out of Your Voice

When we stand before an audience we have three means of communication at our disposal: our voice, our body and our visual aids. I have written on the latter two here and here, respectively.

Your voice is the primary means through which you deliver your verbal message. It is important to say the least. Many fail to analyze their message delivery vis a vis the voice itself with unfortunate results.

Overall, you are looking for three things vocally. You want to be be natural, have a conversational speaking style, and employ lots of vocal variety. Remember, sameness is boring, variety is interesting.

There are five key elements to voice: volume, rate, pausing, pitch, and articulation. As you go through each one consider how natural variety could be used to enhance message delivery. Let's take a quick look at each.

Everyone knows that volume refers to the loudness of your voice. What you may not know is how to increase volume, without resorting to yelling.

Your voice emanates from vibrations in your larynx. A small sound is created in your throat. What pushes that small sound out through your nose and mouth to fill the room is the air in your lungs. Air is the force behind your voice.

So when you want to be louder, you need to take a deep breath and project that air to the appropriate volume for the venue.

Ideally you also want to vary your volume to match the emotions of the message.

Rate is the speed at which you speak. A common result of nervousness is to speak too quickly. This will quickly tire out both the speaker and the audience.

But the overly slow speaker can be even worse to listen to. It is frustrating when someone's rate of speech is consistently slow, because we want the message in a reasonable time frame. The slow talker slows our intake of information...it kind of wastes our time unnecessarily.

So you want to avoid extremes for any length of time, but you do want to vary your rate as much as possible.

Pausing is a critical element in the speaker's repertoire. It is simply the part of the speech where you don't speak, and as such should be easy. However, the silence makes inexperienced speakers uneasy and they seek to fill the silence with vocalized pauses (uh, um), verbal fillers (like/you know) and any assortment of verbal tics(mmm/'nkay?).

Pausing must be embraced and employed for maximum effectiveness. Great speakers build a rhythm, a dramatic arc almost, to their presentations via pausing and rate variation. A pro can help you learn and master this art.

Pitch is the highness or lowness of your voice on a musical scale. Poor use of pitch results in the dreaded monotone speaker.

The key to using pitch effectively is to use the entirety of our pitch range--albeit the extremes pretty rarely. When you excitedly tell a story, your voice dances up and down the musical scale like Tina Turner on crack! Great speakers bring that same pitch variety to the speaking situation.

Articulation refers to the clear crisp production of the sounds that exist in a given language. Someone who mumbles has poor articulation. Sometimes rate and/or nervousness can affect articulation--as can too much alcohol! Even dental issues can be a factor.

Folks with articulation issues probably need some time with a professional who knows the articulatory features of each sound in the language, or to take a Voice and Articulation course at a local college.

Some people over-articulate and sound less than natural. If you really "pop" every sound of every syllable you can come off sounding silly or worse.

Remember our three goals: a natural and conversational voice with lots of vocal variety and you are well on your way to being a better speaker.

That's all for today friends. Be well, speak well, and as always. thanks for reading. If you are interested in learning more about Dan Leyes private and group consulting see Semiosphere Consulting.