demagogue on 23/6/2008 at 14:06
Also Winston Churchill ... not the pebbles, but lots of practice.
frozenman on 23/6/2008 at 16:35
ToastMasters does seem beneficial, but I miiggght hold off on that. Thanks for everyone's comments- I definitely feel like I have a better grasp on it, but as far as improving my mumbling, hmm..
Quote:
I've always had poor posture, and done a lot of internal talking to myself, which, I think, was a lot of the problem. Still is, really. I think that when you do a lot of internal dialog and mumbling to yourself you train yourself to not fully form the words because your brain understands them faster than you can pronounce them to yourself, and just moves on.
Hewer, this is basically my problem. So I guess the question is why all the internal talking- and that seems to stem in me from overactive thoughts (not only do I mumble I jump around in my sentences a lot). I've found that writing has helped this a great deal- just letting out some words in type that correspond to some generic thought that's not doing much except clogging up my brain. For example, I just wrote two paragraphs on why sudoku can act as a thermometer for your reasoning skills. Somehow that helped!
irving_forbush on 23/6/2008 at 23:10
Quote Posted by frozenman
ToastMasters does seem beneficial, but I miiggght hold off on that. Thanks for everyone's comments- I definitely feel like I have a better grasp on it, but as far as improving my mumbling, hmm..
Hewer, this is basically my problem. So I guess the question is why all the internal talking- and that seems to stem in me from overactive thoughts (not only do I mumble I jump around in my sentences a lot). I've found that writing has helped this a great deal- just letting out some words in type that correspond to some generic thought that's not doing much except clogging up my brain. For example, I just wrote two paragraphs on why sudoku can act as a thermometer for your reasoning skills. Somehow that helped!
Learning to shut off your internal dialogue is an interesting exercise. Castaneda described a technique for doing that, and it can be done without peyote. But I've found that when I'm immersed in an activity that I enjoy, my internal dialogue will quiet itself without me actively attempting to do so. Reading & writing actually increase my internal dialogue - I find that physical activity works best for me: cycling, working out, even cooking & baking are effective. But I'm glad you found what works for you. Best of luck.
theBlackman on 23/6/2008 at 23:31
Turn on a tape device (computer audio app, Cassette recorder, etc.), then READ a book and record yourself.
Play it back. You'll soon learn how to speak more distinctly and clearly.
It's no surprise that you (and nearly everyone else) mumbles or fails to enunciate. The so-called professionals you hear on the radio, in tv and other sound bombardments slur thier words, can't pronounce the names of the cities in the states in which they live, and mis-use the language and fail on pronunciation constantly.
Misuse: MOMENTARILY in place of "In a moment". If you don't know the difference, look it up.
Mispronuciation: A common example (three actually). OFF TEN for OFF EN (often). IM POR DANT for IM POR TANT. NIGH for NIG HT. and others.
And they speak as if they had a mouth full of mush. So, you get conditioned to do the same. If your friends, educators and parents spoke cleanly and clearly, so would you.
But the TAPE YOURSELF and play it back is the one that is going to impress you the most, and be the most helpful in correcting your speech, if that's what you want.
Toastmasters and other such are not bad, but they won't help as much as an impartial objective tape recorder. You'll soon learn that if you can't understand YOU, no-one else can. So if you have something to say that has import to you, you'll develop good speech to ensure that YOUR thought gets understood by those to whom you speak.
Tonamel on 24/6/2008 at 00:30
Quote Posted by theBlackman
Misuse: MOMENTARILY in place of "In moment".
If you don't know the difference, look it up.I'm assuming you mean "in
a moment," which is (
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentarily) the third definition of "momentarily".
Quote:
OFF TEN for OFF EN (often).
(
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/often) Both are correct. Not much excuse for the other two, though.
I was actually turned down for an NPR announcing gig, even though they said I had great radio presence. Apparently I couldn't pronounce "Gabriel Fauré" with enough of a French accent. :erg:
theBlackman on 24/6/2008 at 01:52
Quote Posted by Tonamel
I'm assuming you mean "in
a moment," which is (
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentarily) the third definition of "momentarily".
Yes. see edit comment. Thanks [...]
[...]
I was actually turned down for an NPR announcing gig, even though they said I had great radio presence. Apparently I couldn't pronounce "Gabriel Fauré" with enough of a French accent. :erg:
I never could get slurry or mumbley enough for French. Reminds me of a friend who owned a radio station in the San Francisco area. He was always in need of "DJs" ( it was a Classical FM radio station; Mozart, Bach etc.), and he hired a very personable "Voice" for his evening program.
He almost had a heart attack when he heard his new "Voice" say, "And now a piece by SHAS TAK A WITCH to be followed by a TITCH OWW SKI concerto. LOL
Sorry you didn't get the job, and thanks for the nudge. I really should preview and edit, but I get ahead of my self too OFF TEN. ;)
Fafhrd on 24/6/2008 at 06:58
Back on topic. I think singing has helped me with my mumblediness. Not singing in any sort of 'I joined a band' capacity, but just singing at the top of my lungs in the car, or on bike rides or whatever has done a lot to get me used to the feel of forcing air over my vocal cords and speaking audibly. I still tend to trail off into mumbles if my mouth gets ahead of my brain and I run out of things to say, or if I get really nervous and forget what I'm saying, but overall I think I'm better at talking than I used to be, and I tend to crack my voice less. I'm still not much of a shouter, but I don't really need to be.
I also recommend getting the wisdom teeth out, just on general principle. Especially if they've erupted already, which at 23 seems likely. My lower ones erupted when I was around 16 (due to a loose wire on my braces slicing the gums open), but I didn't get any of them out until I was 24. I don't think it'll effect your speech very much, but things'll probably just be generally more comfortable back there.
Hesche on 24/6/2008 at 11:01
Quote Posted by Tonamel
OFF TEN for OFF EN (often).
Both are correct.
(
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=O_b6Kuz2TUs) Get this silent motherfucka outta there cause its confiusin me...
