| Have you often been told that your listeners can't | | | | think about what you are saying. |
| understand you because you speak too fast? | | | | If timing a speech is your concern, again realize |
| Rapid rates of speech can impede your | | | | that many people speak too long, while others |
| effectiveness as a speaker and a professional. | | | | get so nervous that their rate increases and they |
| After all, if you have given a message but it has | | | | do not speak long enough. Keep a watch on the |
| not been understood, you will have to say it | | | | lectern with you. Mark your notes ahead of time |
| repeatedly until the other party understands. It is | | | | so that you know where to cut sections out of |
| much easier to say it slower - the first time. | | | | the presentation or add other optional ones in if |
| People often speak fast for one of four reasons. | | | | you are too fast or slow. Be aware of how to |
| First, the speaker fears the other person will not | | | | coordinate this with any visual presentation you |
| be patient enough to listen to him speak at a | | | | are making, so that you give either a one |
| normal rate. Second, the speaker is talking about | | | | sentence description of a slide or talk extensively |
| his favorite subjects, such as work, family or a | | | | about several others if you need to, to lengthen |
| hobby, and in his enthusiasm, he talks too fast. | | | | the presentation. |
| Third, the speaker is talking when nervous, such | | | | As you speak in the telephone, often when |
| as when giving a presentation or on the | | | | leaving a message, be aware that the other |
| telephone, and speeds up. Fourth, the listener may | | | | person needs to understand you. If you say |
| speak English as a Second Language and need | | | | anything the other person is likely to write down, |
| extra time to process your message, or the | | | | such as your name or telephone number, say it |
| speaker or listener may have other factors that | | | | only as fast as you can write it. |
| impact speech rate or speed of listening. | | | | There are many other factors that make it |
| Whatever the cause, it is important to be aware | | | | difficult for a speaker to talk slowly, or a listener |
| of your speech rate and timing. | | | | to listen more quickly. |
| If you are concerned that the other person has | | | | New speakers of English often remark that they |
| limited time to listen to you, ask him what he | | | | cannot understand Americans who speak quickly. |
| wants to hear about most, such as an overview | | | | People who have a hearing loss may not |
| or the details on an aspect of the project. Think | | | | understand a class of sounds, such as fricatives |
| of the forest versus the trees. use fewer words, | | | | (th, f, v, s, z) and need extra time to understand |
| and keep the pace a little slower as you are | | | | what a speaker is saying. Some medications and |
| focusing on specifically what he wants to hear | | | | some disorders increase the speed of speech as |
| about. | | | | well. If you have certain disorders such as |
| Many people speak at their fastest rates when | | | | Parkinsons, cluttering, or bi-polar disorder, |
| excited about a favorite topic. Write down a | | | | professional training from a speech-language |
| hierarchy of some subjects you know nothing | | | | pathologist is recommended. |
| about, gradually increasing to topics about which | | | | Here are three general techniques to slow your |
| you are passionate, such as your family, job or | | | | rate down. Visualize yourself on a swing, and |
| latest hobby. Tap your foot or listen to a slow | | | | imagine rocking back and forth. Tap your toe to a |
| metronome as you start by saying your phone | | | | slow rate, or see yourself driving down a 25 mph |
| number at a slow pace. Then say your address at | | | | street, in a residential neighborhood filled with small |
| that same rate. Gradually talk about your most | | | | children. Feel that slow rate. Then at that slow |
| uninteresting topics at that same pace. Move up | | | | pace, say your own address. Name three things in |
| the hierarchy until you speak slowly about your | | | | your room right now. Give a weather report, at |
| favorite topics. | | | | that slow rate. Then talk about something that |
| Nervousness makes people speak faster. If you | | | | you find uninteresting. Eventually talk at that pace |
| speak too quickly when giving presentations, | | | | about your favorite hobby. |
| record yourself practicing them until you are | | | | When you practice these self-help skills and realize |
| speaking at a slow speed. Remember that your | | | | that others really do want to understand you, you |
| audience needs to hear and understand your | | | | will know how to control your rate. It takes |
| ideas. | | | | considerable practice, but it can be done. |
| Slow down so they can actually have time to | | | | |