Can you say these popular tongue twisters??

• She sells seashells by the seashore.

• The shells that she sells are seashore shells.

• Rubber baby buggy bumpers• Toy boat

ORAL LANGUAGE

CHARACTERISTICS OF POWER LANGUAGE

CLARITY

• Be organized, precise, and clear!

COURTESY & TACT

• Listen empathetically• Negotiate with respect

OWNERSHIP OF THOUGHTS

• Use “I” messages• Don’t be a blamer

INCLUSION OF OTHERS

• Make direct references to the receiver of the message.

• Be open-minded and show interest in others.

VIVIDNESS & IMAGERY

• Express your ideas in new and imaginative ways.

APPROPRIATE USAGE

• Evaluate the context.• Choose words wisely.• Show a strong command of the

language.

Tongue Twisters

• Mrs. Walker walks so wickedly fast on Whomper Will road.

• Blue bubbles bounce on the breeze beyond the blue bubbly sky

• Sammy Sprinkler sold stinky socks while simultaneously stinking

socks to sell as stinky stinky socks.

• The Tedious Trombonist takes time to tune his tricky trombone.

• Shelby Sims shares her soft shiny shoes with her silly sibling shawn.

• How much hair could harry bare if harry could bare hair.

• Me shells, my shells, your shells, her shells.• The white whip whistled through the wind wildly.• Molly Markson makes a mount made of Maple

Marson Marble.• The vicious violaist viking viciously on viernes • Will you wield your weapon?•

Levels of Usage

• Formal• Technical• Standard• Informal• Ungrammatical

FORMAL

• Legal proceedings• Services• Club meetings• Political ceremonies

TECHNICAL

• Different classes• Jobs• Ever-changing

STANDARD

• Easily understood• Most often used

INFORMAL

• Colloquialisms– Do not translate well outside of their original

culture– Reserve for close friends, family, etc.– Don’t overuse– Generally not appropriate for

job settings

SLANG

• “Temporary” language, as in a clothing fad

• Makes language fun or interesting, but not appropriate for business settings

UNGRAMMATICAL

• Distracts from the message• Gives negative impression to

others

Avoiding Powerless Language

• Fillers• Tags• Vague Wording