CHAPTER 2

SPEECH AND CONVERSATION

Prepared by :
Jarren N. Navarro
April Ann Bausa
Inna Ranieva
Language is one of the most complex tools, that we
have acquired as part of our social heritage. Through
spoken and written language, we carry on business and
trade, we make known our interest and desires, we are
better able to understand much of the behavior of our
fellow man.
INFLUENCE OF VOICE AND SPEECH
The importance of language to society is evidenced by the fact
that 99 per cent of communication today is carried on through
the spoken word. Disraeli said ” Theres is no index of character
so sure as the voice”. The impression you make on new
aquiantances is greatly Influenced by your voice and speech.
You can not talk for long without revealing your interest, your
achievement, philosophy and your emotional state.
CONVERSATION
Conversation is the communication of ideas on a give and take
basis. Its purpose are giving information, persuading people
and entertaining others. Conversation in ordinary business
conference, in selling and in supervising and directing
employee has a definite goal and quite a different tone from
purely social conversation.
BUSINESS CONVERSATION
Conversation in business becomes a test of skill requiring an
alert mind, a ready tongue, factful strategy, and decision
action. Ability to speak well is a dollar and cents proposition in
business promotions come to the persons who can represent
their employees in a commendable way and of whom the firm
can be proud.
INTERACTION OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL
CONVERSATION
The ability to converse satisfactorily in business affairs cannot be
divorced from social activities, and social conversation is equally
important to the business man. Some of the by product of good social
conversation, which have a cash value to the business man are:
• Learning more about human nature
• Making friends
• Improving his own personality
• Increasing his ability in business conversation
• getting new ideas and developing more act and adaptability.
SOCIAL CONVERSATION

The chief aim of social conversation is to entertain. To be good

conversationalist, you must have something to say,be able to
say it well,and say it at right time to the right people.The
element of seriousness so often present in business discussion
is not generally found in social discussion, However social
conversation should move toward an end or at least move
forward and should be enlightening and interesting enough to
be worth the time spent.
ROLE OF THE SPEAKER
To make conversation valuable and stimulating the speaker
have certain responsibilities. The speaker must remember that
the “con” in conversation means “with” not “to”. He should be
sensitive to his listener not adjust the topic if conversation to
the internet of the listener. He should be able to talk, easily and
without embarrassment, varying the sentence structures to
avoid monotony, and using as colorful a vocabulary as he
posseses. He must remember that his sahre of the time will be
limited, depending on the member of people taking part in the
conversation.
TOPICS FOR CONVERSATION

The selection of a topic is Influenced by the interest,age,sex of

the people with whom one is talking. The same subject may
be discussed with all age groups,but from a different point of
view and with different purpose. Topics can grow out of the
dominant interests of the monent, the business outbook,
sports, movies, current news, travel, literature, education an
endless list of subjects.
TOPICS TO AVOID
Controversional topics of any kind are to be avoided until you are sure
that you can really discuss and not agree these topics. Among such
subjects are religion, politics and prejudice of any type.
Avoid talking about yourself, your achievements and your
possession, avoid discussing personalities. Do not sure ridicule of one
acquaintance as a means of gaining stature in the eye of another. Use
your general points. Satisfy your desire for gossip by discussing
character in plays that may cause distress or embarrassment for
someone in the group and avoid it.
CHANGING THE SUBJECT
If conversation lags, fails to interest the groups, falls ender the tongue
of a monopolist, or takes an undesirable turn a skillful means of
changing the subject is to ask a timely question, with some association
if possible to the old subject. The change in subject should be guided so
tactfully that the one who introduced the original subject will not
realize that it is being changed. Often it is possible yo call attention to
some object of real interest that justifies attracting the speaker’s
notice. Never interrupt the speaker, it is discourteous and tactless.
A CONVERSATION MENU

One of the most serious pitfalls of social conversation is

inability to stay on the subject. Conversational that consist of
tag ends, unrelated facts, in consequential event and
platitudes on weather and health has been aptly called “ rag
bag” . This kind of aimless wastefull conversation can be
eliminated hy planning a conversation menu.
MANNERISMS
Mannerisms are unconscious behavior patterns of speech and
bodily movement. They may produce either good or bad
effects. Positive mannerism emphasize and fix in the mind of
the listener the points the speaker is to trying to make. They
help the speaker to set the tone of his presentation. They
stimulate the imagination and provide relief for both the
speaker and the listener.
ROLE OF THE LISTENER
To be good listener requires much skill without listeners, there would
be no conversation! The speaker often is not aware of the degree to
which he himself reacts to the response of the listener.
• A good listener often causes the speaker to be more inspiring. And
he is instrumental in causing others to be more attentive. As Lockhart
says “ An interested listener is always an interesting person to the
speaker.
• Listening is not a passive activity. The listener who is inattentive
cannot reply intelligently
• As an active participant, a good listener watches the
speaker, his mind is alert to what is being said, and his
response have been well considered before they are
expressed.
PHYSICAL ELEMENTS OF SPEECH
Tone ,speech, inflection, emphasis, volume,and rate of speech are some of the physical components of the
speaker voice:

Tone – is an intonation or modulation of the voice through which ideas and emotions are expressed.
Pitch – Also called melody, pitch is the highest or lowness of the tone.
Inflection – the change of pitch within a word or sentences is called inflection and is used to convey added
meaning.
Example: “Oh – I did not know
“Oh – I don’t believe it
Emphasis – The prominence of utterance given to a word or words is known as empahis. It is produced by the
proper use of the reasonance chambers – the pharynx, the mouth and the nasal cavities. It is used for
interpretation for stressing a word or a phrase, for subordinating unimportant ideas or words.

Volume – Volume includes the intensity, loudness and resonance of the voice.
Rate of speech – This is a combination of timing, phrasing and rhythm.
EFFECTIVE SPEECH
The art of speaking effectively requires mastery, not only of the physical
elements of the speech but of other important factors.

Pronunciation. Words are pronounced correctly when one uses the

correct phonetic sounds and places the stress on the proper syllable.
Enunciation. Proper enunciation of words means that each vowel,
each consonant and each syllable is articulated clearly and ditinctly.
Dictions. Good diction is the discriminating selection of words with just
the right shade of meaning.
Emotional color. As overwhelming amount of daily friction is caused
by the tone of the voice or its emotional color.
Ear Training. The development of good speech habits and the
improvement of the speaking voice depend to some extent on good ear
training.
Health. Good health contribute to both the emotional quality and
delivery of effective speech. Enthusiasm and cheerfulness are not easily
feigned in the speech of someone who is not telling well.
Vocabolary. Each of us commands a reading a writing and a speaking
vocabulary. The reading vocabulary is probably the most extensive for it
contains many world which are understand in context but which you
might not be able to define or to use in writing or speaking.
IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT
ENGLISH
You do not have to an expert gramarian. You do need to avoid
the simple errors of speech into which you may lapse through
carelessness. Brush up on grammar occasionally. Good
grammar can add to your general effectiveness because you
will be sure of yourself. Poor grammar on the other hand will
make you object or ridicule and pity. Even more damaging,
others may judge you as intellectually inferior.
SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVING
SPEECH
Good Speech habits can spare you embarrassing moments and develop self
confidence in the normal exchanges required in conversations and
discussion. If you sincerely wisth to improve your speech you must be
willing to take positive action toward improvement. Begin by following the
simple steps.

1.) Make a habit of breathing properIy.

2.) Organize your thoughts and ideas before you speak.
3.) Develop a positive attitude.
4.) Think of listeners as helpful and friendly rather than critical.
5.) Concentrate on the meaning you are trying to convey.
6.) Acquire by practice effective vocal tone, pitch and speech
techniques
7.) Analyze the attractive qualities of good speaker
8.) Make a recording of your voice and analyze it for effective
voice qualities.
9.) If possible have your voice qualities analyzed by a speech
specialist.
SPEECH DEFECTS
Speech defects may be classified as functional organic, or emotional in
origin.
• Functional speech disorders are by for the most frequent. They are
most often caused by failure to open the mouth and by lazy lips and
palate, incorrect breathing, lack of ear training, nasality, throatness and
tenseness. Defects of this type can be corrected through diligent
practices.
• Organic defects, such as a cleft palate, or of physician, speech defects,
such as severe stuffering, maybe causesd by emotional problems and
required the help of a speech therapist possibly even a psychiatrist.
 QUIZ
Identification:

1. It is the communication of ideas on a give and take basis.

2. One of the most serious pitfalls of social conversation is
inability to stay on the subject.
3. Unconcious behavior patterns of speech and bodily movement.
4. To be good convertionalist, you must have something to say, be
able to say it well and say it at right time to the right people.
5. To make conversation valuable and stimulating the speaker have
certain responsibilities.
6-10. ) Give atleast 5 effective speech