Attributes of effective oral language 1. Clarity Attributes of clarity: a.

Correctness Must be grammatically correct Errors in grammar cause misunderstanding and can contribute to a lowered ethos or perception of the source. For instance, the verb of a sentence must agree with the subject of the sentence. b. Accuracy Precise word choice involves choosing words that accurately depict your meaning A speaker must first be certain what meanings he wants his audience to get then he checks whether the words he has chosen are the most precise ones for expressing that meaning Synonyms like guess, prediction, estimate, foretell and forecast mean roughly the same but are slightly different from each other. Choose words carefully. Imprecision may result from: Use of all-purpose words Use of abstract words Exaggeration c. Simplicity Use short, simple common word for a long unfamiliar one Suggestions to achieve simplicity of language style: Avoid verbosity or wordiness Use short and simple sentence construction Avoid tautology and redundancy Avoid hackneyed and trite expressions d. Understandability Define your terms Avoid technical jargon, slang and uncommon foreign words

2. Directness and conversationality Language must be instantly intelligible Must be oral in style: quickly comprehensible, less formal, contain more restatement, be more direct and personal and easily spoken Suggestions to achieve oral style:

Use short words instead of polysyllabic words Use personal pronouns to help you identify with your listeners Use contradictions such as isnt and arent in order to add an air of informality Use shorter sentence length Use simple but graphic words Use direct and rhetorical questions Employ idiomatic expressions Use active voice rather than passive voice Use more restatements to ensure comprehension Refer to your audience more directly