WORDS FOR PRACTICE Speaking Distinctly 247 Very often people do not speak distinctly because they do not take the trouble to open their mouths. They try to speak through almost closed teeth. It is most annoying to listen to a person whose speech is indistinct. By taking a little trouble most of us can speak so that we can be readily understood. It is not necessary to speak very loud if we are careful to enunciate our words plainly. Many mispronunciations come from carelessness in enunciation. Probably in the mouth of a slipshod speaker becomes "prob'ly"; geography is called "jogafy"; library is "liberry"; February is "Febuary," and so on. In some sections the final g of ing is dropped; as, "lovin'," "puddin'," etc. Words for Practice Divide each of the following words into the right number of syllables, and practice saying them dis Talks on Improving Speech Plan a talk on improving speech to give the class. You may select one of the following topics or some other one that you may prefer: Politeness over the Telephone Voices I Like to Hear Why We Should Improve Our Speech Pride in Our Language Good Speech Pays Talk over your topics at home. No doubt your mother and father can suggest points that you have not thought of. Plan exactly what you will say. Make an outline of your talk, as you would outline a paragraph. Let your talk illustrate the points brought out in the preceding section. Dictation Read the following selection, noticing the punctuation and the capitals. When it is dictated try to write it perfectly: A business man was speaking to me the other day about his inability to speak well. "I can't seem to function until I get really roused, till I get angry," he said. "But I've missed a lot of business because I couldn't handle myself right at low speed." The pupil's training in school should teach him to speak readily and to the point whenever he has occasion to speak. KINDS OF SENTENCES Correct Usage This Kind, That Kind 249 Kind and sort are singular nouns. It is correct to use this or that, not these or those, with these words. Read aloud the following sentences, filling the blanks with this or that: sort of weather usually lasts all winter. kind of flowers in my mother's 1. Do you like 2. 3. I have seen Read the following sentences. Notice the punctuation mark at the end of each. Why do not all the sentences end with the same mark? 1. It is snowing to-day. 6. What does it mean! The first sentence merely states or declares a fact; it is followed by a period. The second sentence declares a wish; it also is followed by a period. Both of these are declarative sentences. The third and the fourth sentences ask questions to which answers are expected. These sentences are followed by question marks. They are called interrogative sentences. The answer to an interrogative sentence may be either "yes" or "no," as in the third sentence, or the answer may be a declarative sentence, as in the fourth sentence. Give answers to the third and fourth sentences. The fifth sentence declares a fact, as the first sentence does, but it also expresses the speaker's feeling. This is an exclamatory sentence, followed by an exclamation point. The sixth sentence is also exclamatory, because it expresses great surprise or perplexity. It is more than a question, because of the feeling it expresses. The speaker probably does not expect an answer, for he is so puzzled that he cannot believe there is any answer. A declarative sentence expresses a fact, a wish, or a command. It is followed by a period. An interrogative sentence asks a question to which an answer is expected. It is followed by a question mark. An exclamatory sentence expresses strong feeling. It is followed by an exclamation point. Exercise Punctuate each of the following sentences and tell what kind of sentence it is: 1. Where are you going 2. I am going to school 3. My brother came home yesterday Dictation POSTURE 4. How glad we were to see him 6. That story is perfectly ridiculous 10. Do you admire Roosevelt 251 Read carefully the following conversation and write it from dictation: What are you doing, Fred?" asked Mrs. Brown 'Well, Jack, what are you doing?” "Helping Fred," said Jack promptly. Posture Not only voice is important, but posture or position in standing has a great deal to do with success in speaking. Watch the singer. You will see his body lift, and you will see him move from side to side as his voice expresses his thought and feeling. It is unnatural for any one to stand perfectly still when he is singing or speaking; his body should be free to move in harmony with his thought. A speaker, however, should stand erect, with chest up and eyes directed towards his audience. A slovenly, slouchy position prejudices an audience against a speaker. It suggests slovenly, slouchy habits of thought. On the other hand, an audience is at once favorably impressed by a speaker who stands easily erect. |