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Do I Need To Use Big Words In
My Speech?
Should you be using simple words in your speech so everyone
can understand you, or should your speech contain a complicated and
extensive vocabulary that impresses your addressees?
Like everything in public speaking, it all comes down to your
audience. If you correctly identify your audience, then you should be able
to work out which level of vocabulary you should use.
If you are speaking to a general audience, I would suggest
using smaller and simpler words, so that everyone in your audience will
understand. I would also suggest using inoffensive slang and abbreviations
to give the impression that you are not above them, rather you are on the
same level.
If you use complicated words to a general audience then there
is a great chance that you will confuse your audience. Therefore, you will
not be able to connect with your audience and your message will be
misinterpreted.
If you are speaking to an audience with a high intelligence,
or an audience that you want to impress, i.e. at a job interview, then using
a complex vocabulary might be beneficial. Nothing impresses more if you can
use words such as ‘subliminal’ and ‘surreptitious’ correctly in your
sentences!
If you use basic language to a higher educated audience, then
they might perceive you as “stupid”. As a rule of thumb, people with a high
education will consider themselves to be more superior than you are,
therefore you have to give the impression that you are as intelligent as
they are. Increasing your vocabulary will help this.
However, the consequences of using lower level vocabulary to
a higher intelligence audience in your speech, will be far less than using a
higher level vocabulary to a lower educated audience.
Of course, if you are speaking to a targeted audience, i.e.
computer experts, then using specific vocabulary that they would understand
like TCP/IP, microprocessor and central processing unit is necessary. (I am
not a computer nerd, I just studied it a bit at school!) Again, researching
your audience is a must before you decide what type of language you are
going to use in your speech.
Taking into account that you are more likely to be speaking
to the general community than CEO’s, I suggest that you throw away the
dictionaries and start focusing on other areas of your public speaking, like
speech writing, delivery and memorisation techniques.
My Name Is Christopher
Carlin And I Want To
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