🗣Emphasis training 🗣

Read the following sentences out loud and emphasize the highlighted word to see how meaning can shift:

<I> didn't say your speech was boring. (It definitely wasn't me)

I <DIDN'T> say your speech was boring. (Emphatically, I did not)

I didn't <SAY> your speech was boring. (I never uttered this out loud)

I didn't say <YOUR> speech was boring. (If I said a speech was boring, it wasn't yours)

I didn't say your speech was <BORING>. (My critique of your speech did not include that it was boring)

Practice changing where your emphasis falls in a sentence to shape meaning in dramatic or subtle ways.

For notes:

As you draft a speech or presentation, consider the meaning you would like the audience to understand from each sentence. Think about which words to emphasize to achieve that meaning.

Vary you volume, pitch, and rhythm. This is not only helps you shape emphasis and meaning, it also keeps listeners more engaged by making sure your speech doesn't feel monotonous.

As your practice your speech, make sure you aren't emphasizing too many words. Doing so will distract the audience and keep you from achieving your desired effect.