3. Verbal crutches, fillers, hedges and qualifiers are
used to hold a thought, expressed on impulse
and said without conveying any real meaning.
More often than not, we are unconscious of
them.
5. “Young people today are particularly in need of
standards of speech. Their conversation ranges
from the sloppy to the vulgar. In today’s young
person’s lexicon, everything is either ‘cool’ or ‘it
sucks.’ This nation is faced with a growing
inarticulateness.”
Terrence Moore, author of “Today’s Youth Need Standards of Study and of Speaking”
at ashbrook.org
6. “Young people are often still developing their
social and verbal skills so it is common for them
to use verbal crutches. They often use jargon in
order to identify with their peer group and set
themselves apart from ‘adults …. I try to teach
students about impression management. I tell
them that the way they speak to their friends is
not necessarily the way they should speak in
public.“
Dr. Dora Saavedra,
Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at UTPA
7. Tips for breaking poor speaking habits.
1. Diagnose the problem
2. Pause
3. Record the voicemail messages you leave for
others
4. Enlist the help of a friend or family member
5. Take a breath
