Professional Documents
Culture Documents
English Spoken Word and Phrases
English Spoken Word and Phrases
At that time/…
Stages of Then..
A Before/after..
story When..
Eventually
Words that ADD information:
• The little girl put on her yellow shirt and brown overalls.
• Chris is on the basketball team this semester at Indiana School for the Deaf. In addition,
he is on the soccer team.
• We will be here for one more week so we can finish up our work. Another reason we
are staying longer is because we do not want to miss the Deaf Way conference.
• First of all, pour a half-cup of milk in the bowl; second, add two eggs; and third, stir the
mixture.
• I admire I. King Jordan because he is the first deaf president of Gallaudet. Besides that, I
admire him because he is a great long distance runner. Furthermore, he is a dedicated
family man. All in all, there is not much to dislike about the man, except he is too
perfect!
• Texas School for the Deaf is perfectly located. Moreover, it has a strong academic
program. For example, the school has a preschool program where both deaf and hearing
children learn together.
• There were a lot of problems discussed at the meeting. Finally, after a few hours, we
were able to prioritize the problems in the order we wanted to solve the problems.
• Many parents and students have been complaining about the program. For example,
scores on the end-of-grade tests have gone down from last year; teachers are not very
motivated; and everyone is frustrated. To sum up, some improvements in the middle
school program need to be made.
• There was a malfunction in the smoke machines and lights, the curtains would not open
and close properly, and one of the actors was sick with no stand-in. In conclusion, the
play was a disaster.
Words that REPEAT information
Words that REPEAT informationin factin other wordsonce againto put it another wayto repeat
• That area is very dangerous for you to bike in. To repeat, I warn you not to go there.
• Lisa decided not to go to King Islands. In fact she told me, "No, way."
• I feel that our last Student Council meeting did not go well. In other words, it was a fine
mess.
• Sally has lost an oar on her boat and she is in big trouble. To put it another way, Sally
has to find a different method of rowing or she will sink!
Words that show COMPARISONas ... asin like manneras iflikeby comparisonlikewisein
comparisonsimilarly
• At St. Rita School for the Deaf, a private school, there is a dress code that mandates how
the students are to dress. The boys must wear a pair of pants and dress shirts. Similarly,
the strict dress code requires plaid skirts and blouses for the girls.
• Like her grandmother, Sally loves the Gallaudet Homecoming football game.
• The news reported that Montana would be very cold this week. I said, "Likewise,
Rochester will be, too."
• Ronda bought a new Saturn car; so in like manner the rest of her friends did the same
thing.
• Bob loves to go to parties. In comparison, Sue loves to stay at home with her family.
• Compared to seven years ago when the printer worked well, it has been "ill" a great deal
of the time in recent weeks.
[ Return to Top ]
Words that show CONTRASTS or DIFFERENCES:
• I am not able to go to the beach with you. Nevertheless, thanks for asking me.
• Karen's cat, Salem is so unlike Midnight. Midnight likes to nap a lot and Salem likes to
play a lot.
• The idea of attending the play at Gallaudet is nice. However, the Theoretical Issues in
Sign Language Research conference is scheduled at the same time.
• Though I eat green beans because they are healthy, I hate them.
• The play was great, nonetheless, I was sick of seeing it after the fourth time.
• Amber, Sharon, and Megan went to Busch Gardens for the day. In spite of the cold
weather, they enjoyed themselves.
• Sharon and Megan enjoyed the Loch Ness Monster ride, but Amber thought that
Alpengist was faster and had more twists.
• Sharon has not visited the Land of the Dragons, yet if she had had a kid, she would have
gone by now.
• Alexander Graham Bell believed in oral education for deaf children. This is in contrast
to Edward Miner Gallaudet who believed in using American Sign Language to educate
deaf children.
• We need to wash our clothes, after that we can go to the Taste of D.C. festival.
• I can't wait to watch "NYPD," it is coming on soon. You can watch the rerun later this
week.
• Finally, I will get to see Rick Schroder. He has not been acting much since he was a
teenager.
• After so much time waiting in the long line, the boys finally got their hamburgers.
• The Van Gogh art exhibit was shown earlier this month in Washington, D.C.
• Wait until tonight, then you will be able to see the full moon over Gallaudet's Chapel
Hall.
• The show is not over until the actors take their final bows at the end.
• While Missy was driving to work, she saw a deer by the roadside. She slowed down to
watch the deer for a short time, then continued on her way to work.
• Even when Sally was able to, she did not bother to finish her ASL project.
• Clerc met with Gallaudet to prepare for the Congressional meeting scheduled for the next
day.
• The next night was very dark and stormy. Of course, it was Halloween night!
• "Next, please," the lady called when it was my turn to go up to the booth to have my
paycheck cashed.
• Bobby's broken ankle will heal in time for the Maryland Deaf Festival.
• That house felt very creepy inside; meanwhile, it was sunny outside.
• Eventually, Sally got tired of John calling her on the TTY all the time since she was not
interested in him.
• She was still asleep when I got back home from work.
• Now, please get this truck fixed because I need it to get to school on time!
• Schools for the deaf used Sign Language until the dreadful conference in Milan; from
then on, most schools for the deaf employed the oral method.
• Super Kmart is near Landmark Mall, but Ames is far away from the mall. So it would
be easier to shop at Super Kmart.
• It will take two hours to go from Point A to Point B. Can you figure out how many hours
it is from Point A to Point C?
• At first, I thought it was a dead animal. As I walked closer, I saw it was only a worn-out
coat on the ground.
• Looking beyond this month, I predict that funding will be much better for this program.
• Everyone hid out in the hall during the hurricane, hoping they would be safe.
• Rebecca has not eaten at Lone Star ever since she became sick from eating the food.
• Following "Friends" and "Mad about You," "ER" will be shown. "ER" is supposed to
have two Deaf actresses on the show tonight.
[ Return to Top ]
• Not all birds eat berries. For example, vultures eat dead animals.
• Jeff is an interesting person to know. To illustrate, he knows a lot about the history of
the Deaf community in Ireland.
• There are things that need to be done to improve the company. For instance, we can
begin by organizing the files.
• I have a few things to take care of such as paying bills, cleaning the house, and going to
the post office.
• Midnight was not able to move around well because his hind legs were in casts. He broke
them when he fell off the bookshelf.
• Did you see the tragic accident on I-85 south? It was caused by a drunk driver.
• Because it is raining today, the homecoming game and the food booths will be cancelled.
• I was too tired; therefore I decided not to go to the state fair last night.
• In 1903, William E. Hoy, a deaf baseball player, caught a fly ball in the ninth inning in
spite of heavy fog. Consequently, Los Angles won the pennant for that year.
• Ricky worked all day, from 8am until 11pm. That is why he stayed home instead of
going camping with us.
• The school bus broke down last week and has not been repaired yet. So for that reason,
our dance group is unable to go to Washington, D.C. to perform at Kennedy Center.
• There is no doubt that the dog buried the bone in the garden.
• Of course, Sarah is going to the beach this weekend with her parents. She needs a break
from Gallaudet.
• Naturally Steven is not going to agree with that plan. In fact, he thinks that the idea of
setting up a business selling scarves on K Street would surely fail.
• Certainly, you may borrow my book on the history of the American Deaf Community.
But, be sure to return it to me next week.
• Granted that Bob promised to send some money to help with the bills, yet this doesn't
mean that he will.
• Conceding that Sally is a strong skater, Rachel still believes she will be able to beat her
in the Olympics. Rachel wants to become the first deaf ice skater to receive a gold medal.
Types of Speech Transitions
There are many types of speech transitions. Each type highlights a different verbal relationship.
For example, one type of transition highlights the contrast between two different ideas.
Each of these types is cataloged below. For each type, we list just a few of the possible words
and phrases. Can you think of others?
• Likewise …
• Similarly …
• This is just like …
• In a similar way …
• We see the same thing if we consider …
“Speech transitions smooth over the boundary between two ideas, and reveal the
relationship between the words just spoken and those about to be spoken.”
• However …
• Conversely …
• On the contrary …
• On the other side …
• On the other hand …
• If we flip that around …
• Yet, we cannot ignore …
• The opposing argument …
• If we examine the opposite side, we see …
• Also …
• Moreover …
• In addition …
• Furthermore …
• In other words …
• Not only that, but …
• Therefore …
• As a result …
• Consequently …
• For that reason …
• This is important because …
• For instance …
• For example …
• As an example …
• To illustrate this …
• What’s an example of this? …
• But does this happen in real life? Yes …
• X said: …
• In 1968, X said: …
• This idea was expressed clearly by X who said …
• Let’s begin …
• To get started, let’s examine …
• Let’s get started talking about …
• Now that we’ve given an overview, let’s start with …
• In short …
• In summary …
• In conclusion …
In a longer presentation, your conclusion might include a review of a the key points:
The abrupt way to do this is to simply have one person stop talking, and then have the other
person start talking. It is much smoother, however, to pass the verbal baton to the next speaker
(X):
There are many occasions when you need to jump back to an earlier idea to add additional
information. e.g. after a break, following an exercise, or returning from an unplanned
interruption
• Let’s return …
• Let’s revisit …
• Let’s go back to …
• We introduced X earlier; let’s explore that further now.
When executed poorly, speech transitions can obscure meaning and frustrate audiences.
1. Miscount Transition
This faulty transition occurs when a speaker begins counting main points, but does not do
so consistently. (e.g. First, Second, Next, Next, Third, Third, …) Faulty counting can also
occur when a speaker tries to number both the main points and the sub-points and gets
mixed up.
2. Incompatible Transition
This faulty transition occurs when a speaker uses a transition word or phrase which
doesn’t match the relationship. (e.g. they start with the word “however”, but they follow
it with an example)
3. Tangential Transition
Transitional phrases like “That reminds me…”, “Ironically…”, or “As an aside…” are
dangerous because they often lead to an off-topic diversion which blurs the focus of the
speech and wastes time for you and your audience. Just. Don’t. Do. It.
Emotional State: Curiosity (when you want them to be gripped by an unshakable desire to
click and read more):
• Secret
• Confidential
• Controversial
• Underground
• What no one tells you
• Have you heard
• Cover-up
• Forbidden
• Banned
• Behind the Scenes
• Secret agenda
• Secret plot
• Insider
• Off-the record
• Blacklisted
• Censored
• Concealed
• Confessions
• Unbelievable
• Covert
• No one talks about
• Hidden
• underground
• Insider’s Scoop
• Intel
Emotional State: Urgency (If you want then to take action now now now):
• Magical
• Instantly
• Missing Out
• Left behind
• Magnificent
• Miracle
• Most Important
• Profitable
• Proven
• Quick
• Remarkable
• Results
• Revolutionary
• Safe
• Save
• Sensational
• Should
• Startling
• Strongly agree/ recommend
• Strongly suggest
• Superb
• Superior
• Tremendous
• Truly
• Trustworthy
• Urge
• Worthwhile
• Deadline
• Limited
• Seize
• bargain
• Discount
• Explode
• Extra
• Fortune
• Freebie
• Jackpot
• Reduced
• Instant Savings
• Skyrocket
• Immediately
• Imminently
Emotional State: Confusion and Helplessness (Especially useful when questioning Status
Quo, making them realize what they are missing out or “us vs them” style content)
• doubtful
• uncertain
• indecisive
• perplexed
• embarrassed
• hesitant
• disillusioned
• distrustful
• misgiving
• unsure
• tense
• stressed
• uncomfortable
• dishonest
• disdainful
• manipulative
• judgmental
• argumentative
• authoritative
• condescending
• distracted
• disoriented
• off-kilter
• frenzied
• blushing
• awkward
• incapable
• paralyzed
• fatigued
• inferior
• vulnerable
• distressed
• pathetic
• distraught
• doomed
• overwhelmed
• incompetent
• incapacitated
• trapped
• squirming
• jittery
• woozy
• twitching
• compulsive
• uncaring
• uninterested
• unresponsive
• terrified
• suspicious
• anxious
• alarmed
• panicked
• threatened
• cowardly
• insecure
• Deceived
• Helplessness
• Disempowered
Emotional State: Anger (This is a high physiological arousal emotional state that can help drive a
number of actions such as getting support for a cause or sharing content because of the sheer
outrage felt)
• Ordeal
• Outrageousness
• Provoke
• Repulsive
• Scandal
• Severe
• Shameful
• Shocking
• Terrible
• Tragic
• Unreliable
• Unstable
• Wicked
• Aggravate
• Agony
• Appalled
• Atrocious
• Corrupting
• Damaging
• Deplorable
• Disadvantages
• Disastrous
• Disgusted
• Dreadful
• Eliminate
• Harmful
• Harsh
• Inconsiderate
• enraged
• offensive
• aggressive
• frustrated
• controlling
• resentful
• malicious
• infuriated
• critical
• violent
• vindictive
• sadistic
• spiteful
• furious
• agitated
• antagonistic
• repulsed
• quarrelsome
• venomous
• rebellious
• exasperated
• impatient
• contrary
• condemning
• seething
• scornful
• sarcastic
• poisonous
• jealous
• ticked off
• revengeful
• retaliating
• reprimanding
• powerless
• despicable
• self-hating
• desperate
• alienated
• pessimistic
• dejected
• vilified
• unjustified
• violated
Emotional State: Safe and Satisfied (Great for Sales Pages when you want people to feel
secure in their choice)
• Accurate
• instantly
• Advantage
• Always
• A cut above
• Bargain
• Certain
• Certainly
• Confident
• Convenient
• Definitely
• Delighted
• Easy
• Ecstatic
• Effective
• Emphasize
• Extremely
• Freedom
• Guaranteed
• Highly effective/ likely
• Introducing
• First ever
• Investment
• conscientious
• approving
• honored
• privileged
• adaptable
• relaxed
• Astonishing
• Astounded
• assured
• fulfilled
• genuine
• authentic
• self-sufficient
• reliable
• sure
• secure
• stable
• honest
• truthful
• supportive
• excellent
• responsible
• solid
• trusting
• supported
• Absolutely
• Bargain
• clarity
• transparency
• humility
• blissful
• joyous
• delighted
• overjoyed
• gleeful
• thankful
• festive
• ecstatic
• satisfied
• cheerful
• sunny
• elated
• jubilant
• jovial
• fun-loving
• lighthearted
• glorious
• innocent
• child-like
• gratified
• euphoric
• on top of the
• world
• playful
• courageous
• energetic
• liberated
• optimistic
• frisky
• animated
• spirited
• thrilled
• wonderful
• funny
• intelligent
• exhilarated
• spunky
• youthful
• vigorous
• tickled
• creative
• constructive
• helpful
• resourceful
• at ease
• comfortable
• pleased
• encouraged
• surprised
• content
• serene
• bright
• blessed
• Vibrant
• Bountiful
• Glowing
Emotional State: Inspired (as part of content that is meant to inspire and make them feel
like they are capable and in charge)
• motivated
• eager
• keen
• earnest
• inspired
• enthusiastic
• bold
• brave
• daring
• hopeful
• upbeat
• assured
• clear
• balanced
• fine
• okay
• grateful
• carefree
• adequate
• fulfilled
• genuine
• authentic
• forgiving
• sincere
• uplifted
• unburdened
• confident
• self-sufficient
• reliable
• sure
• unique
• dynamic
• tenacious
• cooperative
• productive
• exuberant
• in the zone
• responsive
• conscientious
• approving
• honored
• privileged
• adaptable
• Empowered
• Focused
• Capable
Emotional State: Relaxed and Peaceful (Products or services that offer mental peace and
relaxation):
• calm
• at ease
• comfortable
• content
• quiet
• certain
• relaxed
• serene
• bright
• blessed
• balanced
• grateful
• carefree
• fulfilled
• genuine
• authentic
• forgiving
• sincere
• uplifted
• unburdened
• confident
• self-sufficient
• glowing
• radiant
• beaming
• reflective
• smiling
• grounded
• unhurried
• open-minded
• efficient
• non-controlling
• unassuming
• trusting
• supported
• fluid
• light
• spontaneous
• aware
• healthy
• meditative
• still
• rested
• waiting
• laughing
• graceful
• natural
• steady
• centered
• placid
• Clear
• Stoic
• Aligned
Your message is concrete. Your argument is watertight. But are you opening your
presentation in the most engaging way? Here are 8 tried-and-tested techniques for opening
your presentation with a bang.
1) Amplification technique
Take something minor and demonstrate it's a serious problem. Take something farfetched and
make it seem real. Take something alien and make it close to home. The surprise factor will have
them hanging on to your every word.
Example – It's widely accepted that girls tend to do better than boys in school. Philip Zimbardo
begins his talk with a series of startling facts – 'Boys are 30 percent more likely than girls to drop
out of school [...] Girls outperform boys now at every level, from elementary school to graduate
school' – turning this idea into a nationwide issue.
The reverse of this is to take something seemingly scary or complicated and make it very simple.
We know that Malaria kills half a million people each year, and we've had a cure for it since the
1600s. Wait, what? Now speaker Sonia Shah has our full attention.
https://www.ted.com/talks/sonia_shah_3_reasons_we_still_haven_t_gotten_rid_of_malaria?lang
uage=en
2) Sensory technique
Stimulate your audience's imagination by describing a scene in vivid detail, or ask them to
remember a particular memory and recall what they saw, smelled, heard and felt. You could even
make them aware of their physical surroundings in some way.
Tying what you're saying up with physical memories will help your audience retain information
for longer.
Good for – Creating a lasting impression, making your ideas come alive.
Example – Amy Cuddy makes her audience 'do a little audit' of their bodies. She asks them 'how
many of you are sort of making yourselves smaller? Maybe you're hunching, crossing your legs,
maybe wrapping your ankles?' Activating the audience's sensory awareness (before revealing
what those body habits mean) gives her talk greater resonance.
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are/transcript?la
nguage=en
3) Personalisation technique
Even well-meaning people sometimes won't act until an issue affects them personally. Make the
problem relevant to your audience by showing that it's relevant to (or is caused by) them or their
community.
An effective twist on this is revealing an unimagined connection between our current actions and
things happening in the future or in far-flung places.
Good for – Making your audience care, making complex ideas simple.
Example – Emily Wapnick asks the audience 'Raise your hand if you've ever been asked the
question "What do you want to be when you grow up?"', bringing cultural attitudes towards skills
and work into the spotlight and revealing how it affects our perceptions of ourselves.
https://www.ted.com/talks/emilie_wapnick_why_some_of_us_don_t_have_one_true_calling/tran
script?language=en
4) Puzzle technique
Opening with a puzzle piques your audience's curiosity from the get-go. It could be a problem, a
riddle or the conundrum at the heart of your theory. It could be a real-world puzzle or a metaphor
for the ideas in your talk.
Leave the puzzle open-ended but direct your audience to some place they can find the answer if
you want them to continue engaging with your content after the talk. Or, promise to tell them the
answer at the end so they listen throughout.
Good for – Waking up your audience's brains, inspiring curiosity.
Example – If someone gave you a candle, some thumbtacks and some matches, could you attach
the candle to the wall so the wax doesn't drip onto the table? Dan Pink's candle puzzle challenges
us and provides a springboard for discussion of what motivates us in the workplace.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation/transcript?language=en
5) Question technique
Your questions could probe the listener's personal memories, sense of identity, or general
knowledge – whatever gets the cogs turning. Asking questions can be an effective way of
prompting your audience to have an 'aha!' moment.
Opening questions are usually rhetorical as you're asking the listener to self-analyse, but you
might like to direct them somewhere that they can share their ideas or experiences with you.
Good for – Helping the audience recognise a problem or come to some conclusion.
Example – Kelly McGonigal asks her audience to raise their hand if they've experienced
different levels of stress over the past year. Almost the whole audience responds
and demonstrates, very quickly and simply, how endemic a problem stress is.
https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend/transcript?langua
ge=en
6) Quotation technique
Quoting a famous person is an easy way to borrow a little of their power, especially if it's
someone respected by your audience. If they're a more obscure choice, there's no harm in
reminding your audience of that person's credentials.
Your audience may read personal things into your choice, so choose carefully. People are likely
to have personal associations with famous quotes or speakers so be mindful of these too.
Example – Elizabeth Nyamayaro's chosen quote – 'As Africans, we must uplift all the people of
Africa' – serves as the heart and soul of her entire presentation. It expresses the principles at the
heart of her work, and tells her audience something of her as a person.
https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_nyamayaro_an_invitation_to_men_who_want_a_better_wo
rld_for_women/transcript?language=en
7) Story technique
Stories are perhaps the most effective tool for inspiring empathy and understanding in the
listener. It's also a vastly underrated skill in the business world, even though it can engage your
audience's minds in incredible ways.
Telling a personal story may make us feel vulnerable, but it's an opportunity to show confidence
and character. Telling the story of someone you admire demonstrates your values. The story of a
customer proves you listen and take pride in providing a good service.
Good for – Explaining ideas in an accessible way, synchronising the audience's emotions with
your own.
Example – Peter Attia begins his story 'I'll never forget that day back in the spring of 2006' –
and now nor will we. His story is powerful not just because it's illustrative of the wider problem
he's describing – but because he expresses genuine emotion as he tells it.
https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_attia_what_if_we_re_wrong_about_diabetes?language=en
8) Humour technique
Making a joke makes your audience feel warmer towards you and more receptive to your ideas.
The best presentation jokes involve self-deprecating humour, so being able to laugh at yourself is
a must. You could also exaggerate a story for effect.
Your sense of humour tells your audience a lot about your values and can be a shortcut to
building trust. It may also help them feel more comfortable about sharing their ideas and joining
in if that's a part of your presentation. Good for – Relaxing your audience, building
rapport. Example – Shawn Anchor's perfect comic timing makes this opening anecdote side-
splittingly funny. The humour makes it easier for us to open up to what he's trying to
say, making the serious message of his talk all the more impactful.
PRESENTAITON TIPS
• Story
• Question
• Shocking headline/static
• Powerful quote
• Show a gripping photoU
• Use a prop or creative visual aid
• Play a video
Powerful Words That Convert:
The 5 most persuasive words in the English language
• You
• Free
• Because
• Instantly
• New
• Suddenly
• Now
• Announcing
• Introducing
• Improvement
• Amazing
• Sensational
• Remarkable
• Revolutionary
• Startling
• Miracle
• Magic
• Offer
• Quick
• Easy
• Wanted
• Challenge
• Compare
• Bargain
• Hurry
3 words to encourage community
• Join
• Become a member
• Come along
• Accordingly
• As a result
• Because
• Caused by
• Consequently
• Due to
• For this reason
• Since
• Therefore
• Thus
• Members only
• Login required
• Class full
• Membership now closed
• Ask for an invitation
• Apply to be one of our beta testers
• Exclusive offers
• Become an insider
• Be one of the few
• Get it before everybody else
• Be the first to hear about it
• Only available to subscribers
• Limited offer
• Supplies running out
• Get them while they last
• Sale ends soon
• Today only
• Only 10 available
• Only 3 left
• Only available here
• Double the offer in the next hour only
• Anonymous
• Authentic
• Backed
• Best-selling
• Cancel Anytime
• Certified
• Endorsed
• Guaranteed
• Ironclad
• Lifetime
• Moneyback
• No Obligation
• No Questions Asked
• No Risk
• No Strings Attached
• Official
• Privacy
• Protected
• Proven
• Recession-proof
• Refund
• Research
• Results
• Secure
• Tested
• Try before You Buy
• Verify
• Unconditional
• Improve
• Trust
• Immediately
• Discover
• Profit
• Learn
• Know
• Understand
• Powerful
• Best
• Win
• Hot Special
• More
• Bonus
• Exclusive
• Extra
• You
• Free
• Health
• Guarantee
• New
• Proven
• Safety
• Money
• Now
• Today
• Results
• Protect
• Help
• Easy
• Amazing
• Latest
• Extraordinary
• How to
• Worst
• Ultimate
• Hot
• First
• Big
• Anniversary
• Premiere
• Basic
• Complete
• Save
• Plus!
• Create
• Tell us
• Inspires
• Take
• Help
• Promote
• Increase
• Create
• Discover