Chapter 9 Summary

It is important to consider your style as a speaker, whether that be verbose, detailed, vivid, or conversational. Speaking and writing have distinct differences, and oral style usually uses simpler sentences than written style in order to aid in audience comprehension. Oral style is also more interactive because you can respond to your audience as you speak. Oral style is often less formal than writing, though the formality of the speech should respond to the occasion.

Traditional models of speaking rely on facts and organization, while the electronic age has created audience expectations for speaking styles that are more narrative, conversational, and personal. As a speaker, it is best to think about how you can blend factual/analytic styles and narrative/dramatic styles to reach your audience with clarity and energy.

Some standards of competent oral style include clarity, precision, and vividness. Enhance clarity by using clear and simple language, avoiding jargon and euphemisms, and using slang sparingly. Focus on precision by choosing words carefully, eliminating sexist language, using concrete referents, and eliminating redundant words and phrases. Make your speaking vivid by making use of metaphors and similes, alliteration, repetition, and antithesis. Make use of styles that make your speech both effective and your own.