Eliminating Bad English Speaking Habits（在线收听）

Eliminating Bad English Speaking Habits

I say "um" too much

¹⁾Vocalized pauses or ²⁾fillers, including "um", "uh" and "ah", and their close relatives, "like", "you know", and "okay?", are some of the most common concerns brought to a speech ³⁾consultant. We don't, uh, want to, uh, get to, um, ⁴⁾picky here, since one to three percent of everyone's speech normally contains hesitations. And folks like Bobby and Ted Kennedy have spoken successfully in public life despite long "aahhh" pauses. However, a bad case of "umm it is" makes you annoying to listen to. So, why do so many of us "um" along in life?  Most often, vocalized pauses function as a way to fill up space as we ⁵⁾formulate the next thought. Though old habits take some time to break, it is possible to ⁶⁾banish the "ums" and "uhs" forever.

Here are some tips for "um" and "uh" ⁷⁾extermination.

First, spend a week observing your "um" and "uh" pattern. Just becoming aware of the ⁸⁾dimension of the problem, helps you to cut down.

Second, practice deliberately inserting one or two-second pauses into your speech. Many people who "um" their listeners to ⁹⁾distraction, don't realize that short silences are less ¹⁰⁾obtrusive and perfectly acceptable. 

Third, your goal is to allow a slight pause instead of that unnecessary vocalizing. Try to catch the start of your "ums" and "uhs". You can actually feel the movement in your vocal ¹¹⁾chords. ¹²⁾Nip them in the bud and just be silent instead. 

I talk too fast

Some fast talkers come from families where there's a lot of competition for the floor. Others come from families that seem to have a genetic speed streak. They walk fast, work fast, and also talk fast. Some people race-talk because they feel no one really wants to listen to them. Finally, rapid speech can be a sign of stress. The good news about fast talking is that studies show that listeners prefer a faster-than-average rate to a slower-than-average rate. The bad news is that speaking at ¹³⁾breakneck speed, can leave a negative impression. 

If you are talking so fast that people find you hard to understand, start slowing down your speech with this technique. Count, one two, in your head at natural pauses between phrases, sentences and items in a list. The extra second will help you control your breathing better and allow time for listeners to absorb what you've said. 

In this next example, I'll say the one two aloud. But when you practice it, do the one two silently. "I'm glad to be meeting you today (one two). Before we get on with our agenda, (one two), I'd like to ask each of you (one two) to introduce yourself, (one two), and to tell us a bit about your company. Practice the "one two technique" when reading a newspaper or magazine article aloud. Use a tape recorder to double check that you've really allowed the pause it takes to say. (one two) 

如何排除演讲中的坏习惯

我的“嗯”好多

发声的停顿或补白，包括“哦”、“嗯”、“啊”以及它们的“近亲”：“就像”、“你知道”、“对吧？”，都是人们咨询语言矫正学家最普遍关心的问题。我们并非，哦，想要，哦，在，嗯，这儿吹毛求疵，既然任何人的言语中通常都有百分之一到百分之三的口吃。更何况还有像博比、肯尼迪那样长时间“啊——”的美国人在公开场合成功地发表了演说。不过，“嗯——，是……”弄不好会让你的听众感到不耐烦。那么为什么我们中还有众多的人要“嗯”个不停呢？多数情况下，发声停顿在我们进行下一个思考时起到了填补空缺的作用。虽然改掉旧习惯要花费时间，但永远告别“嗯”、“啊”是有可能的。

下面给出根除“嗯”、“啊”的几点诀窍：

一、 花一个星期的时间观察你“嗯”、“啊”的模式，稍稍了解问题的轻重缓急有助于减少它的发生次数。

二、 有意识地练习在你的言语中加入一、两秒钟的停顿。许多把听众“嗯”走神的人没有想到，短暂的沉默不但不易察觉而且完全可以接受。

三、 你的目标是允许轻微的停顿而不是那多余的发声。试着捕捉你“嗯”、“啊”的前奏，你能真真切切地感受到声带的擅动。把它们消灭在萌芽中然后转为沉默就行了。

我的嘴太快

说话快的人有一些是出自经常为赢得上风而争辩的家庭；而另一些，他们的家庭似乎带有快速的遗传基因，他们走路快，工作快，于是说话也快。有的人说话快因为他们觉得没有人真正想听他们说些什么，最终，过快的语速会成为心里紧张的前兆。有关说话快的研究好消息是，调查显示，人们普遍喜欢听快于正常语速的讲话而不喜欢慢于正常语速的讲话。而坏消息是，语速狂快会给人留下负面的印象。

如果你讲话的速度快得让人感到不知所云，那么就用这种方法来放慢你的语速。遇到词与词之间、句子与句子之间以及表格中栏与栏之间的自然停顿，在心里默数一二。多出的这一秒钟会帮你更好地控制呼吸同时也为听者理解你的话留下了时间。

在下一个例子中我将会大声地说出一二，但你练习的时候一二要默默地进行。“很高兴今天与大家会面（一二），在开始议程之前，我想先请各位（一二）做一下自我介绍（一二），并且向大家介绍一下你们公司的情况。在大声朗读报刊杂志的同时练习‘一二疗法’”。用录音机做复查，看看你是否真的留下了停顿的时间可以说，（一二）。

注释

1) vocalized [5vEukElaizd] a. 有声的

2) filler [5filE] n. 填充物

3) consultant [kEn5sQltEnt] n. 顾问，咨询者

4) picky [5piki] a. 吹毛求疵的，好挑剔的，过分讲究的

5) formulate [5fC:mjuleit] v. 阐明

6) banish [5bAniF] v. 消除，驱除

7) extermination [iks5tE:mineiFEn] n. 消灭，根绝

8) dimension [di5menFEn] n. 范围，程度

9) distraction [dis5trAkFEn] n. 分心，走神

10) obtrusive [Eb5tru:siv] a. 突出的，显著的

11) chord [kC:d] n. 发声，和音

12) nip them in the bud 将某事物阻止或消除于萌芽中

13) breakneck [5breiknek] a. 非常快的