Communication FUNdamentals

Today is Day Four of the National Words Matter Week Contest!  In addition to posting  our blog link(s), today you have an additional way to enter and have fun with our contest!

Today’s Extra Entry:

Here is our extra entry rules for today, Thursday, March 4th:

The key to effective communication is our vocabulary.  The more descriptive our words are, the more effective we are at communicating our message.  Here are a list of Plain Jane words that aren’t very descriptive.  What words could you use instead of the following that would be much more descriptive?

Good, Bad, Nice, Loud, Fun, Big, Small

Please email your list to jojo@artofeloquence.com and please put “WMW Contest” in the subject linke.  Each descriptive word will count as an additional entry in our contest!

Enter early and often!

The one with the most entries at midnight on Friday, March 5th will win an Art of Eloquence Value Package of his/her choice!

Check back tomorrow for yet another way to enter this contest or…subscribe to Communication FUNdamentals so you don’t miss a post!

Insects are little pests in our homes.  They don’t really belong there and they just annoy us as we have to deal with them either one at a time or, heaven forbid, in swarms!

Unnecessary words are the same way in our communication.  Ever talk to someone who takes the long way around a conversation?  Someone who walks around the block a bit before he finally spits out what he wants to say?  Ever in a hurry and need an answer to a question quickly but the person you happened to ask has swallowed a dictionary?  Does it BUG you?  LOL

Sometimes we need a “Just the facts ma’am” moment, but we live in a “let me tell you all about it” world.  FDR once said “Be sincere; be brief; be seated.”   Sometimes a good idea for more than making speeches. ;D

A friendly reminder from Art of Eloquence.com, the Communication FUNdamentals!

Extra!!  Extra!!  Breaking Word News!!

This just in from the Rather Be Writing blog!  Dr. Word Wielder has a special word lesson for you over on Rather Be Writing today!  Dr. Word Wielder is the most articulate word teacher on the net.  Here are Dr. Word Wielder’s Quick Quiz Questions:

“The quandary can be quelled by calculating the qualifying answers and inserting them into a post in your que of blog entries. Then the readers shall reappear here to respond with a link to the web address wherein you have posted your response to these questions. Return again and read the Exam Explanations and Answers which I shall record on this page in a day or so.

1. Hectic or Helpful Homonyms. The Egyptians were ruled by a (farrow or pharaoh) who sat on a (thrown, throne) chair. Pick the correct homonym for the sentence to make sense.

2. Ideal or Idiotic Idioms. The musician who won the national finals at the Gospel Music Association (A. forgot himself OR B. went off the deep end) when he heard his name announced over the public address system. Choose the correct idiom.

3. Wise or Wacky Words. Automaton. Is it: A. Automatic matching OR B. a robot or mechanical person? Select the proper definition.

4. Comical or Cute Coinage. Editoreyesis. When one’s eyes insist on noticing grammatical errors almost everywhere his or her eyes look, making general reading more like an editing experience. People with this condition tend to be hardest on themselves.”

You may post your answers here or go to Dr. Word Wielder’s post and answer them there.  He will be posting the answers in a day or two so do check back with him to see how well you did!   I’ll answer in just a moment.

This Father’s Day, instead of giving Dad a tie or a soap on a rope, why not give him the gift of appreciation?  Why not communicate with him and tell him how much you love him and what he has done all these years that has made you who you are?  Why not share who you are with him and make him feel special.

I bet he’ll think it is the best gift you ever gave him!  Even taking into account the year you made him a tie with your own tie dye!!  And, especially in this economy, it’s affordable too!!

Want a unique and special gift for Dad this year?  Tell him exactly what he means to you!

Words…it’s what’s for Father’s Day this year!

For more help learning to express yourself, visit Art of Eloquence.com!

How it works:
Each Monday I ask a thought provoking question about life.  Pose the same question to your blog readers on your own blog along with your answer to the question.  Then come back here and post a comment with a link to your blog post so we can all read everyone’s answers!  It’s been a lot of fun getting to know my readers and their readers and so on and so on…

This week’s question:

What is your favorite or signature scripture and why?

JoJo’s Answer:

Since studying speech communication, I have found literally hundreds of scriptures that talk about communication skills, but my signature verse has become Proverbs 25:11.

” A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

I love it because it reminds me that each word we choose to use is precious and has a particular meaning.  It reminds me that the words we use are important not only for our formal speeches or our debates but for every day sharing with others.

What is your signature or favorite scripture and why ?
Post your answers on your blog and come back here and put your link in so we can read it!  If you don’t have a blog, just post your answers here.

Learn speech and communication skills the fun and easy way with Art of Eloquence.com!