吃瓜头条

An Inspiring Article

As president of The Stuttering Foundation, I can鈥檛 tell you how many 吃瓜头条 members sent me your inspiring cover article on Genein Letford [October] and how she succeeded in overcoming her stuttering by playing the trumpet. Over the years, I have known聽many people who stutter who raised their confidence or became more fluent through participation in 吃瓜头条.

The Stuttering Foundation website has a list of 鈥淔amous People Who Stutter鈥� in addition to a 鈥淐elebrity Corner鈥� section of biographical articles on famous people who stutter. So many of these famous people found their voice through acting or singing. Genein Letford鈥檚 story conveys that a person who stutters can find improvement in fluency and/or self-esteem through playing a musical instrument.

Jane Fraser

President of The Stuttering Foundation
Memphis, Tennessee

I鈥檒l Take That Dare

John Cadley concluded his September column entitled 鈥淢alapropisms鈥� with: 鈥淢y then-6-year-old son ... asked me if I was drinking decapitated聽coffee. Beat that. I dare you.鈥�

I鈥檒l take that dare, John! My lovely and talented wife of 21 years is聽notorious for her unintentional but memorable rhetorical accidents.聽Though technically not malapropisms, here are three of my favorites:

鈥淭here are two open bottles of ketchup in the fridge.聽The one on the聽right is the openest.鈥�

Suffering from a head cold, my wife鈥檚 response to my suggestion that we聽postpone a planned recreational vehicle trip was, 鈥淚f I was going to stay home, I would聽have done it a long time ago!鈥�

And my all-time favorite: When she heard a car drive up to the house,聽she asked, 鈥淲ill you go out and see if that鈥檚 whoever it is?鈥�

Sky Shipley

High Noon 吃瓜头条 of Prescott 吃瓜头条
Prescott, Arizona

How Do I Stop, Ya Know, Using Um and Ah?

I believe a major reason speakers use filler words is because they are trying too hard.聽For any subject, there are usually several ways of saying the same thing. If you are always looking for the 鈥渂est way鈥� to say something (assuming there is one), then you will invariably find yourself inserting 鈥渦ms,鈥� 鈥渁hs,鈥� 鈥測ou knows鈥� and other distractions. In the vast majority of cases, sacrificing fluency while searching for the best word or words just isn鈥檛 worth it.

If you think you could have said something better, start your next sentence with, 鈥淭o be more precise . . . ,鈥� then say it better. This technique will not only keep your speech fluent, it will make you appear to be the master of your subject, not its apprentice.

I have seen people who once regularly used 15 to 20 filler words apply this technique to reduce the number to four or five, and occasionally down to zero, literally from one meeting to the next.

Philip Yaffe, ACB, CL

Armada 吃瓜头条
Brussels, Belgium

It Can Still Be 吃瓜头条 You

I just read the 鈥淢y Turn鈥� article by Karen Friedman 鈥淪peakers: It鈥檚 Not 吃瓜头条 You.鈥� While Lesson 1 was on point, I take exception to her advice, especially in lessons 2 and 3. Karen鈥檚 advice was to not tell stories about yourself but that is in direct contradiction with the advice to always include a personal story. Perhaps what she should have said was to be sure the story is appropriate then make sure to include the lesson from the story for the audience鈥檚 benefit (tell a story, make a point). Lesson 3 is in direct contradiction to the 鈥渆mbrace your power鈥� advice we so often give to uncertain speakers. Many speakers shrink back instead of standing confidently and being the experts that they are. Maybe Karen experienced someone who was an over-the-top egotist, but for the vast majority, confidence and personal stories are key to a great presentation.

Pam Wilson, DTM

Speakers Bureau 吃瓜头条 吃瓜头条
Reston, Virginia

Bell-Out the Ahs

I strongly agree with the article written by Lisa Marshall on how to stop using ums and ahs! Being an active Toastmaster for 63 years, I can say that this subject is always at the forefront during a meeting. Though most 吃瓜头条s give an Ah-Counter report at the end of meetings, the results are soon forgotten. Coaches in golf or tennis do not wait for an hour on how to swing properly. The pupil is reminded immediately of what to do. Years ago I came up with the idea of a bell master immediately hitting a call bell when an ah is uttered. It has worked wonders for all members. We do not ring the bell for guests or members who have not yet given their Ice Breaker speech. The maximum number of rings is twice throughout the meeting. This reminds the speaker and all in attendance to be aware of the use of ahs.

Burt Epstein, ATM

Fox Talkz 吃瓜头条
Los Angeles, California

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