Resources and Exercises for improving Speech

cashcow1 · 2016-10-11T20:40:36+00:00

Do you mean public speaking skills?

I recommend a book called "How to Argue and Win Every Time" by trial lawyer Gerry Spence for those looking to learn how to speak with real emotion and conviction.

OFAFV · 2016-10-11T22:23:19+00:00

Meditate.

Part of the reason us millennials can not speak straight is over exposure to very stimulating... Stimuli. Many of us have mild cases of ADHD and we often turn our brains off (Watching Tv or youtube), we cannot think fast enough. We are too "excited" when we do talk. Meditating is great for calming us down and letting you talk "slower" while also letting us think better.

Scuzzin · 2016-10-11T22:28:37+00:00

Look into Cicero (the greatest Roman orator) and Demosthenes (greatest Western orator). Demosthenes had a speech impediment, of which we are unsure of its exact manifestation. Demosthenes had his inheritance stolen from him essentially, but was to weak in speech to argue to the courts for retribution. He then started doing things such as filling his mouth with marbles and trying to speak loudly and coherently. He would also go for runs along the roaring seashore and try to do the same while competing with the crashing waves; all while trying to get air. Obviously there is more to it than that, but seriously, look into these two people. While they use classical diction, their training and methods can be applied to today's language. Also quit saying umm and like in your speech unless you actually like something.

MattyAnon · 2016-10-12T13:01:29+00:00

I have hard time speaking coherently and eloquently in public and social settings.

Practice - join a public speaking group.

What are some exercises and resources for improving Speech. Personal tips and stories are also infinitely appreciated

I've worked on this a lot, and the results are definitely worth it.

Tips:

Slow it down. Stop pressuring yourself. Speak at half your usual rate. It's easier and better if you slow down.
Speak in statements and not questions. Statements are dominant, questions are confusing and make people think the opposite to your point.
Focus on different aspect of your speech to the exclusion of all else. Week1: concentrate on slowing down. Week2: no filler words (ummm... ya know... err.... ). Simply replace all filler words with a blank silence. Uncomfortable with this? Tough, barrel through it big boy. Week3: whatever is your next biggest problem.
Keep it clear and simple. Most people speak in a confused manner and it's hard work to understand their point. When speaking to strangers you have to keep it REALLY simple, because they're concentrating so hard on working out who YOU are and getting used to understanding you, rather than working out what you're saying. Build up complicated concepts one small building block at a time.
Don't mumble, don't speak too quietly. If people say "what? eh? can you repeat that?" to you more than once a week, you're speaking too quietly / complicatedly / mumbly / quickly.
Context. Make sure you are speaking something that your audience can actually understand. Don't assume previous knowledge of the situation. It's good to ask "do you know about?" and then tell them or skip it accordingly (tricky with large groups). This also provdes a little context to start their understanding.
Speak clearly and loudly enough that audience participation is not optional. This makes it easier and requires less willpower/concentration from them to follow you, and therefore people actually prefer it.
Advanced: vary your volume, speed, tonality to maintain audience interest. Most forms of speaking get wearing eventually.

ruboski · 2016-10-12T01:51:50+00:00

Perfect timing for this post.

Went over to my girlfriends place for dinner yesterday and the whole family roasted me for mumbling, talking too fast or just not speaking clearly.

Thank you for the contribution

[deleted] · 2016-10-11T21:58:04+00:00

Call some people that you haven't talked to in a while and just bring up a few topics. If the conversation goes dead on one topic ask a question that leads into the next topic. People you know well should make it easy for you to chat. Do this on a regular basis with people not only to keep in contact but also strengthen your existing relationships. I discovered that plenty of my friends and acquaintances appreciate I show my interest in them. As a bonus my friends that moved to other states invite me to vacation to see them and hangout. The idea is that if you have more conversations in general you will be better.

homelessWOOKIE9 · 2016-10-12T03:17:08+00:00

look up famous speeches. Recite and record yourself speaking. Practice and gain the muscle memory

recon_johnny · 2016-10-11T22:56:26+00:00

Have you ever played basketball? How you get better shooting free throws? You keep practicing, over and over. Get a feel for the shot. Imagine it going in, then see it happen. After awhile, you know where the release point without trying.

Same thing here. You'll have to talk, and often. Talk in the car, talk in the shower, talk to yourself, then work up to engage and talk to folks in line. You have a problem in a long conversation? Start with smaller ones and build up. I'll chat up folks (all types, not just women) just to say hello. Some may not want to talk, but most do.

What helped me the most was taking a job as a phone support. I used to be shy, not talk well, not talk often. Doubtful you can take the same approach, but being on the phone, day after day, really helped me learn how to be smooth in a conversation and pretty much approach anybody.

Entropy-7 · 2016-10-12T04:11:28+00:00

Toastmasters.

Some colleges and universities let outsiders join their debate teams as well.

Debating plus being an army NCO completely cured me.

Redbeam100 · 2016-10-12T04:14:03+00:00

If you want to speak to a whole bunch of people at once imagine yourself as a kindergarten teacher speaking to his class of easily influenced and astonished children.

yummyluckycharms · 2016-10-13T05:06:53+00:00

The best resource is toastmasters - for structured speaking.

That said, the best resource in practice is speaking to strangers on the street. A successful speaker is able to think on his feet and to have witty comebacks (see Winston Churchill)

TheGodPlant · 2016-10-11T20:01:06+00:00

Read books out loud focusing on the pronunciation of words.

VicVineger16 · 2016-10-11T23:40:18+00:00

Use as few words as possible. When you're speaking, the goal is to recreate what you're feeling in another person's mind. By using as few words as possible you accomplish 2 things: 1. You leave the interpretation up to the listener for them to understand how they want 2. You don't speak like a woman

People may think you don't like them when you use this technique, so don't forget to smile

exitthecomfortzone · 2016-10-12T00:26:32+00:00

Man let me tell you that I know exactly what you're talking about cuz I also suffer from the same condition. For the longest time (since childhood) I just thought I was quiet but then discovered (during my mid twenties or so) that I just dont talk much because I'm not as articulate as other people. I've been trying to get out of my shell for ever but it seems as if I'm running forwards with a big rubber band attached to my back and just get slung backwards to the starting point constantly and it gets a little frustrating. Sometimes I think I get too conscious about the issue when I'm about to start conversing and affects my performance. Ive also been looking for ways to improve or fix the condition. I think that our brains do not process fast enough to think of what you're trying to say and match it with the correct words. In any case I agree with other posters about practice and talking as much as you can anywhere you are and force -really force yourself to talk- cuz if you're like me you tend to keep to yourself the majority of the time. Am I wrong?

michael_wilkins · 2016-10-12T05:00:01+00:00

Practice.

When you read, read whatever your reading out aloud, taking care to enunciate correctly. (assuming you live alone)

Better yet, use the voice recorder on your phone to record yourself talking and play it back to yourself.

You'll be surprised how you sound. But don't pay too much attention to it as the phone speakers will mess with it a bit.

DirtyProject0r · 2016-10-12T10:55:39+00:00

Join a Toastmasters club.

It is a nonprofit educational organisation that is meant to help members improve communication, public speaking and leadership skills. I have been a member since September 2015 and it has been one of the best decisions I made in my life ever. They are an international organisation so I am sure there is a club in your area as well.

Zamarski · 2016-10-12T11:58:26+00:00

Also, consider hiring a speech coach.

NYCMusicalMarathon · 2016-10-12T15:25:28+00:00

Practice in front of a mirror and video record yourself.

Prepare a short song and a short joke.

Record it and listen. Evaluate your effort.

What can you do in this private place to improve yourself?

Repeat with your new knowledge of better execution.

Besties.

blueDustBeard · 2016-10-12T19:32:54+00:00

tape yourself the next time you speak in public. It is easy to point out what are your weak points for an outside perspective.

mummersfarce_is_done · 2016-10-12T19:58:17+00:00

Reading some literature in your own language (not translations) might be quite helpful in expanding your vocabulary usage and establishing models for well-formed sentences. In this case, translations are not to be trusted because most of the sentences are not originally planned the way you read them. It tends towards clunkier sentences.

Go read a good novel. Pick among classics, not bestsellers.

bigcitytruth · 2016-10-14T05:54:27+00:00

To put it simply, stop talking like a woman.

MacMasterMatt · 2016-10-16T18:10:50+00:00

Toastmaster's. It's a public speaking club where you practice speaking in front of a group at every meeting, and then receive feedback on your skill and weak points.

hydra1970 · 2016-10-11T22:22:03+00:00

Do a podcast. The point is not to get listeners but to slow down and improve your speach.

AllYourBas · 2016-10-12T02:03:02+00:00

I have found that since becoming an adult and moving back to my hometown (and therefore running into lots of people that I used to know quite well, but haven't seen in a few years) that I almost have the opposite problem - I talk way, way too much, and the conversation is stilted and weird.

So much so that I started doing online personality tests to double check that I hadn't become fucking autistic overnight.

I am making a conscious effort to slow down and only speak when I actually have something to say. The advice 'don't forget to smile' seems very relevant.

MyLittlePonyofDoom · 2016-10-12T12:51:01+00:00

Hire a voice/speech coach. If you cannot do that I'd say find someone whose speech you admire, preferably a public figure with a lot of youtube videos that you can study. My own speech patterns were absolutely shocking until I went to law school where I was forced to communicate quite complex ideas in a coherent manner and defend them. It helps that there are a lot legal court based TV programs around that i could model myself around. However I am not advocating that you should go to these lengths. Humans are excellent mimics and it really is only a matter of finding the correct role model. I am really a good listener and am fascinated by human speech especially slang and jargon. It's really interesting to listen how good speakers communicate, how they emphasis the certain words and how their rhythm changes.

Title	Resources and Exercises for improving Speech
Author	jb_grenouille
Upvotes	97
Comments	49
Date	October 11, 2016 7:45 PM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/56zy98/resources_and_exercises_for_improving_speech/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/resources-and-exercises-for-improving-speech.63602 https://theredarchive.com/post/63602

Comments