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How To Be More Articulate

To improve articulation, one should listen to recordings of themselves speaking to identify areas to refine like pronunciation and filler words. Checking speech rate and aiming for 120-150 words per minute makes speech more engaging. Eliminating unnecessary filler words like "um" and "like" enhances clarity. Using pauses strategically emphasizes key points and allows for organization. Practicing difficult words and focusing on clear pronunciation of endings enhances delivery. Varying pitch makes speech more natural and people respond better to a range of tones. Preparing thoroughly for presentations fosters confidence and natural speaking without notes.

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Andrija Erdes
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570 views2 pages

How To Be More Articulate

To improve articulation, one should listen to recordings of themselves speaking to identify areas to refine like pronunciation and filler words. Checking speech rate and aiming for 120-150 words per minute makes speech more engaging. Eliminating unnecessary filler words like "um" and "like" enhances clarity. Using pauses strategically emphasizes key points and allows for organization. Practicing difficult words and focusing on clear pronunciation of endings enhances delivery. Varying pitch makes speech more natural and people respond better to a range of tones. Preparing thoroughly for presentations fosters confidence and natural speaking without notes.

Uploaded by

Andrija Erdes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to improve articulation

1. Listen to yourself speak


To help you improve your speaking, record yourself speaking. You can capture an actual
presentation at work or simply speak for several minutes on your own. Listen to yourself and
identify areas that you can improve, such as sharpening your pronunciation and eliminating filler
words. Consider asking close friends and family to listen to you speak and ask for their feedback.

2. Check your speed


Strong articulation involves knowing how to use the appropriate rate of speech. Speaking too
quickly can make it difficult for people to understand you and follow your thoughts, while speaking
too slowly may imply that you are not confident or knowledgeable of your material. Generally, a
conversational speaking tone is between 120 and 150 words per minute. You can use your recorded
speech to measure your speech rate by converting the audio to text and pasting it into a word
counting program.

Once you know your rate, you can make a conscious effort to either speed up or slow down to get
to a pace that is engaging for the audience and comfortable for you. You can also practice varying
your speed in various parts of your speech. Talking faster can show passion and urgency, while
talking slower can show seriousness and help you emphasize a point.

3. Watch for unnecessary words


Try to eliminate filler words from your speaking, such as "um," "like" and "okay." These words
do not add substance to your speaking and may distract your listeners. Using streamlined, precise
speech patterns can suggest confidence and help your audience understand you better and stay
interested in your ideas.

4. Use pauses effectively


Breaks in your speaking can be strategic ways to emphasize certain points and allow you to
organize your thoughts before speaking. When you pause during a speech, it gives your audience
time to think about your last statement. It denotes the seriousness or importance of the subject.
When speaking casually or in a small group, taking a few seconds to collect your thoughts before
responding to a comment or question can help you provide a more articulate, focused answer.
Organize your thoughts to ensure you provide a thorough, thoughtful, appropriate response
5. Practice pronunciation
When you listen to yourself speak, you may notice that certain words or sounds present challenges
for you. Practice saying these words each day, focusing on each syllable and sound and
emphasizing the correct part of the word. For example, the word "mischievous" has an emphasis
on the first syllable, "mis." If you're unsure of how to pronounce certain words, look them up and
listen to audio examples of their pronunciation.
You may also want to focus on clearly expressing the last sound of the word, making sure your
voice does not trail off. For instance, pay close attention to contractions and words that end in t,
sh or ch.

6. Vary your pitch


Your pitch refers to how high or low you speak. To improve articulation, try varying your pitch
throughout your speaking to sound more natural and conversational. People tend to respond better
to more soothing, melodic speakers who incorporate a range of high and low tones.

7. Speak at the right volume


Choose an appropriate volume when speaking to others. This may mean projecting your voice
when speaking to a large crowd or reducing your volume when having a meeting with your
supervisor.

8. Develop confidence
An important component of speaking well is to feel confident in your knowledge and ability.
Before a presentation or meeting, do things that make you feel good about yourself, like exercising,
painting or writing. Find activities that give you a mental boost so that you feel more sure of
yourself heading into an important discussion. Increased confidence can help diminish your
nervousness. Reducing your anxiety can improve your focus, recall and ability to speak clearly
and directly.

9. Prepare thoroughly
It can be easier to speak well when you know your material thoroughly. Before a speech, study
your material until you are comfortable giving the presentation without notes. Consider bringing
only an outline with you when you deliver the speech to help you speak naturally, rather than read
from a script. Adequate preparation can improve your confidence, which can help you feel more
comfortable in front of people.

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