How To Have A Good Oral Expression

The ability to communicate, which the human being possesses, is highly valued. In fact, from the mother’s womb, parents speak to their child, with the intention that when he is born, he can identify his voice and respond to any stimulus.

When the moment arrives, in which he finally emits a short word, like dad or mom, great happiness is produced in his parents, who notice that the child is able to communicate.  Naturally, over time he learns to pronounce new sounds that create new words, until finally, he has developed the ability to speak.

However, the fact that we can talk does not mean that there is no correct way to do it.  There are rules and standards by which oral expression is governed. So there is what is considered adequate and what is not, what is correct and what is wrong.

Of course, some professions require a more technical way of speaking than others. For example, a worker does not express himself in the same way or in the same terms as a lawyer or a doctor. However, that does not mean that it cannot be improved and have a good oral presentation.

This is extremely important, since, by speaking correctly, we will be able to express what we think and what we feel clearly, without creating ambiguities or giving way to incorrect interpretations that could disqualify us in the blink of an eye.

So, would you like to know what you can do to improve your way of speaking? This could open the doors to many job opportunities. In addition, it will help you to have a better relationship with the people who are in your immediate environment. Let’s see what you can do about it.

Instructions to have a good oral expression

It is considered one of the most important aspects of human communication, since it has helped him to survive, since through it he has been able to create concepts, ideas and terms with a specific meaning. In a few words, we can say that it is the ability to say what is thought without any obstacle.

Among its main characteristics we can find the following:

1. She is fluent and therefore uses words naturally and spontaneously.
2. It has a rhythm, which gives a certain harmony and accentuation to the language.
3. It is coherent, since it expresses the ideas in order.
4. It is accompanied by different body movements and gestures, depending on the context in which it is found.
5. Since the words must be expressed clearly, we can say that he has a good diction.
6. It is not ambiguous. That is, it must be presented clearly and precisely.
7. It is made up of a large vocabulary of words that we have stored in our minds.
8. It is active, dynamic and expresses feelings.

In relation to its objectives, we can say that they are to know exactly what is meant, to use an appropriate tone so that the person who receives the message can understand it, to say what is intended to be communicated, etc.

Since thanks to oral expression we are able to communicate and transmit what we think to satisfy our needs, it is important that we do it well. I mean, effectively. But how can we achieve it? Let’s see it right now.

What do you need to have a good oral expression?

• Gestures or non-verbal language: with it you can accentuate, complement or deny what is being expressed in words. Use gestures that accompany your argument and make it easier to understand.

Show your hands, stretch your arms, unfold your shoulders, and make sure your face is visible to everyone. Make sure that your movements are slow and try not to turn your back on your audience.

•  The look: it is part of non-verbal language and has the ability to create communication bridges with others. May your look be frank, that is, with eyes wide open, looking people in the face. If your look is dull, it will create apathy for what you are saying. It is important to make eye contact, even if you are reading or watching a slide.
•  The volume and intonation: the voice is essential to be able to connect with the audience, as well as to get the message across clearly, to keep them attentive and even to transmit emotions. Use an appropriate tone of voice so that everyone present can hear you. Vary the intonation so that the message does not sound linear and therefore boring.

•  Rhythm and pronunciation: This is related to the modulation of the voice and is vital to facilitate the following of the speech. Speak faster if you want to convey enthusiasm.  However, slow down when you’re bringing up an important point. Don’t change the rhythm abruptly, as this can scare your listener. Also, don’t sacrifice good pronunciation by speaking too fast to cover more information.

•  The wardrobe: although it may seem an irrelevant aspect, it helps to project your presence as a speaker and can have a good effect on your audience. Make sure that your wardrobe is in harmony with the context in which you present your exhibition, without having to sacrifice your personal style.
•  Order and structure: for an exhibition to be successful, it must have an order that the public can follow and understand. Therefore, organize your speech in parts. The most classic organization is introduction, development and conclusion. In order to relate the ideas of the speech, you must use the connectors properly. That is, those words that unite the ideas and the different parts of the speech. Some of them can be: for example, therefore, in the first place, in summary, among others.
•  Vocabulary: the vocabulary we use can vary, depending on our audience, the degree of formality of the event and the purpose of the communication. It is important to use technical words very properly, as well as foreign words. In this particular respect, one must be careful not to come across as presumptuous or perhaps very careless, as far as pronunciation is concerned.
•  The syntax: This has to do with the construction of the message. The shorter and simpler it is, the better it can be understood. Therefore, avoid using very long sentences and the abuse of fillers. Some of them are: that is, therefore, this, etc. Also, avoid the use of phonetic wildcards, such as: aaaah… erm, among others.
•  Clarity and precision: when these objectives are met, the audience can easily understand the words. So, the recommendation is to adapt the terminology that we are going to use to the knowledge that our audience has on the subject. In this way we will avoid the use of words of little importance, as well as expressions that are too obvious, since they are considered unnecessary.
•  The density of information: if we transmit an overloaded speech, it is difficult for the audience to understand it. Therefore, repeat key words to emphasize main ideas, use rhetorical questions to lighten the information and play with the expressiveness of the voice. Vary your pitch, pace, and volume to avoid sounding too flat.
•  The means of support: use means of support that are appropriate to the conditions of the room. For example: slides, videos, printed documents, etc. This can help you attract the attention of the public. Take care of the size of the images and letters, as well as the typography.
•  Mastery of the subject: To achieve this, it is important that you spend enough time studying and understanding the subject. This will also give you confidence when speaking. For this, you can consult referential sources. However, if you prefer, you can build your own thesis, based on the analysis of others. Be rigorous in the selection and explanation of the main ideas.

In the event that it is a forum, where there is intervention from the audience, try to show security when responding. To do this, you must listen carefully to the questions and think calmly before issuing an answer.

• Time: learn to distribute time logically and efficiently. This requires that you prepare well in advance. Don’t go over or under the time you’ve set for each part of speech. You can do it this way: spend 10% of the time on the introduction, 70% on the body of the speech, and 20% on the closing and conclusion.
•  The conclusion: it is one of the most important parts of the dissertation. Through it, it seeks to fix the main ideas in the minds of people. To do this, you must relate the conclusion to the hypotheses or questions that you have raised, try to make it clear, brief and direct. Finally, strive to make a lasting impression on people.

If you make an effort to follow these instructions, you will surely improve your oral expression and you will be able to convey what you think in such a way that everyone can understand it. But what are the advantages of oral expression? Let’s see it.

Tips to have a good oral expression

1. It is the most accessible form of communication. This means that it can be used at any time.
2. It is the fastest and most efficient information exchange process that exists, since you can get an immediate answer to what you are asking.
3. Anyone can do it, no matter where you are. With the exception of people who have a speech-related disability.
4. It gives the opportunity to correct words and expressions immediately, so as not to create gaps in the message or that it lends itself to a double interpretation.

These are just some of the advantages offered by expressing yourself correctly orally.  However, this type of communication also has its disadvantages, what are they?

Disadvantages of oral expression

• Problems can arise when both the sender and the receiver want to express their opinions without waiting for the other to finish.
• If the person is hearing impaired, it is unlikely that they will receive the message.
• It is falling behind, being replaced by other electronic means, such as the use of text messages, emails, among others.
• It can be distorted due to distractions that occur in the space where the sender and receiver are.
• It is difficult to retain the message transmitted, among others.

However, despite these apparent disadvantages, it will always be beneficial to cultivate the art of oral expression. It is not a matter of talking for the sake of talking, but doing it in such a way that it is understandable to everyone, both young and old.

Also, our oral expression is similar to a letter of recommendation. If it’s good, they’ll take us into account. But, if it is deficient, our words will be downplayed. Hence the importance of striving to be better every day.