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Have you ever considered how to sound more eloquent when you speak? This post will teach you 10 different tips to improve the depth and clarity in the way you communicate with others.
Cambridge Dictionary defines eloquence as “The quality of delivering a clear, strong message.” It’s not about using an advanced vocabulary or speaking with a british accent. It’s about communicating in a way that you deliver respect and confidence as well as get that in return.
Leaning to speak more eloquently is a vital skill that anyone can start improving. It simply takes awareness and intentionality to sharpen this skill and enhance your communication. It’s about the time and effort you choose to invest in yourself.
How to Sound More Eloquent When You Speak
1. Focus on Deep Breathing
When speaking, you want to focus on deep breathing and breathing from deep below your diaphragm. This video on youtube clearly teaches you how to improve your voice with deep breathing. The video mentions that when you speak from the last bit of your breath and sound like you’re running out of words, you tend to sound anxious and that energy is picked up from the listener. When you speak using your breath as a boost or a tool, you’ll sound much more confident and eloquent in the sound and tone of your voice.
2. Clearly Annunciate Your Words
In order to sound more eloquent, slow down when you talk. Annunciate your words thoroughly. You don’t want to annunciate so clearly that you sound awkward, but just the right amount will do. When we annunciate clearly and know how to properly pronounce words, we sound much more confident and intellectual.
To sound more eloquent when you speak, it’s recommended to only ever use words you know the meaning and pronunciation of to avoid sounding unintelligent. If you do have to use a word you aren’t sure to pronounce, don’t draw attention to the fact that you can’t pronounce it properly. Just say the word and then move on with your story. Others will understand what you mean. By drawing attention to our uncertainties, we can come across as unconfident or even foolish.
3. Say More, Speak Less
You may have heard the saying, “A wise man once said nothing at all.” In order to sound more eloquent, consider thinking more before you speak. The goal should be to make your words have more meaning to them, and be more powerful. When you ramble and say a lot of words without meaning, people lose interest. When you say fewer words, and the ones you do say have depth, you instantly sounds more intellectual.
Try to listen more and become an observer. This is what the wisest people know. Detach from the need to convince others to agree with you or the need to justify your every thought. Just sit back and choose your words wisely. Just that alone will raise your eloquence.
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4. Be Kind and Considerate
Eloquence directly correlates to being kind and considerate. This means being gentle and not invasive or intrusive to others. Swearing can be taken as inconsiderate with some guests, for example if young children are around.
You should always provide kind compliments over harsh criticisms and be considerate of your audience when you speak. Vulgarity or inappropriate language is never eloquent. Either is speaking about inconsiderate or uncomfortable topics with others. Read this post to learn about the topics you should always avoid at the dinner table.
5. Smile and Use Eye Contact
Smiling and using eye contact is a non-verbal way of communicating that you are open to receiving the other person’s company. It’s an important way of letting the person know you accept them. It also establishes trust with others and demonstrates respect.
Smiling and making eye contact are crucial to sounding eloquent. It’s the visual part of the way you communicate. Just imagine if you were looking away while talking to someone and speaking with a frown. When you speak with a smile, your words automatically sound uplifting and energetic. People are attracted to this style, it’s charming and enjoyable to be around.
6. Use Your Manners
When speaking to others, if you want to sound more eloquent, always use your manners. Especially the basics like please and thank you. No need to over use the “sorry’s” or insecure sounding statements. Simply use your manners when appropriate and always be polite. It’s a key component to sounding eloquent and sophisticated.
7. Broaden Your Vocabulary
If you want to sound more eloquent, you should be intentional about broadening your vocabulary. As mentioned earlier in this post, you should never use words or phrases you are unsure about the meaning. In doing so you risk sounding unintelligent or silly.
You can broaden your vocabulary by researching synonyms for words online for your writing, be it letters or even simple text messages. The key to expanding your vocabulary is being intentional about using the new words in real life.
Another way to broaden your vocabulary is reading more books, especially classic literature. You can listen to audiobooks or use a word of the day app on your phone. However you decide to learn these new words, just ensure you are intentional about trying to use them. You must train your brain to be comfortable using new words in order to sound more eloquent.
8. Maintain Good Posture
An eloquent lady does not hunch or slouch. When are speaking with good posture, you instantly sound more confident and appealing to listen to. Stand up straight, drop your shoulders and speak with vibrancy and poise, this is sure to keep people interested in what you have to say.
Having good posture, much like smiling and eye contact is another non-verbal means of communicating. Non-verbal communication is actually said to be more powerful than verbal communication. That being said, these factors are actually a bit more crucial than the specific words you say.
9. Avoid Filler Works
To sound more eloquent when you speak, try to avoid filler words such as “like” or “um.” These words are used when we are not confident in a story we are telling. A tip to assist with this is to improve your posture and stand up straight when speaking. Having good posture not only communicates confidence to others, but it also communicates it to your own brain. When you stand up straight you are sending a signal to your brain that you should be telling this story and that you know what comes next.
Be comfortable with slowing down when you speak and taking pauses. It’s okay not to ramble. It’s actually preferred. If using filler words is a habit for you, the first step is to become aware of it and try to slowly stop yourself. As mentioned earlier in this post, don’t draw attention to yourself when you accidentally use them by saying “ugh I said ‘like’ again.” Simply be aware of it and just try to improve on the next sentence, then the next, and so on.
It’s actually really good to be aware of the words you are choosing to speak. Working to eliminate the filler word habit is a great way to be more mindful of what you say.
10. Be Interesting
Last but not least, in order to sound more eloquent when you speak, consider becoming more interesting. People will listen when the things you say have value. Speaking nonsense is a surefire way to lose someone’s interest in you. When the things you choose to say have depth and pizzaz, you become interested and will sound more eloquent.
Below is a post about how to become a more cultured or worldly person. By being intentional about becoming a more well-rounded person, you’ll find yourself having a much greater appreciation for things and being able to share that with others. You’ll find yourself having more in common with others and having healthier, exciting things to talk about.
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