Its the way that you say it.

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Its the way that you say it.
Tony Corballis communication skills trainer for
the Employability Unit at London Metropolitan
University

• presenting yourself
• the effect your voice can have
• the language of the workplace
• getting a cutting edge over others

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2
Experts in communication talk about linguistic
registerwhat is it?
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• High register
• formal
• more serious
• more neutral
• polite
• sometimes colder?
• more effective?

• Low register
• informal
• sometimes funny
• more emotive
• less polite
• more friendly?
• less effective?

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What is the English language?

• English is a mongrel
• What is the origin of kamikaze, karaoke, joie
  de vivre, siesta, hijab, kindergarten, barbecue,
  ninja, safari?
• What happened in 1066?

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French Anglo- Saxon
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Words that mean the same
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Higher register grammar

• Nominalization (processes?things)
• to participate participation
• to solve solution
• to make money financial success
• Passives and being impersonal
• She did it It was done
• Have you finished it? Has it been finished?

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Low High
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interviewing for a job chatting with your best
friend chatting with a new acquaintance giving a
presentation to your tutorial giving a creative
brief to potential clients presenting your thesis
to a panel of lecturers appeasing an angry
parent convincing a retail assistant to refund
you money
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Introductions

• Imagine youre in a waiting room and feeling
  sociable. In turn, introduce yourself to three
  people around you.
• To one person, introduce yourself as a 1.
• To another person, introduce yourself as a 5.
• To another person, introduce yourself as a 3.

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What happened?Body languageVoice and accent
Behaviour and attitude Words used
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Is high register better than low register?
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Is high register better than low register?

• Not necessarily
• But being able to slide between the two is
  better than either one

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What is status?
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What is status?

• Is it the use of high register language?
• Is it your place in a hierarchy?
• Is it your confidence?
• Is it your importance relative to others?
• Is it simply an illusion?

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• Hello
• Hello..
• Youre late!
• I know..

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So what is status?

• An internal perception
• A resulting external projection
• How can we wind it up and wind it down?
• Play with register
• Play with eye contact and vocal clarity
• Play with attitude and behaviour

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• You wanted to see me?
• Yes. Come in Smith. Sit down, please.
• Of course. What going on?
• Im afraid this just isnt good enough.
• But Ive spent weeks on it!
• Im sorry. We are just not able to use it.
• Well, its was too good for you anyway.

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Focus outwards

• Observe
• Trust yourself
• Speak from the heart

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Express to impress

• Two minutes
• Your degree
• Your dream
• Your short-term goals

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Business-Speak Just jargon or a new tongue?
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Any new tongue just takes time

• Linguists call it a lexical field
• Lexis vocabulary, word-combinations, sayings,
  and metaphors
• Does lexis matter?

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YES!

• Studies have shown that a strong command of lexis
  is linked to success.
• And not just business lexis
•  

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YES!

• Research shows that, in business, people judge
  you by how you communicate.
• Rich, crystal-clear English gives a great
  impression.

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Precise lexis

• Iz thinkin.. Ynaa mean? Like.. Lets dowit
  this way ere.. init
• Shall we follow this plan?

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Precise lexis

• I dont think hes going to put up with this
  way of doing stuff any more. He just cant really
  find his way through it all. Can we check out
  some other ways and see if they are any good
  against ours and maybe take on one of them if it
  works out okay
• I doubt he can endure this method any longer.
  He cant orient himself. Perhaps we could
  investigate alternatives to compare and adopt if
  they are suitable.

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You can

• Play with register (and use formality,
  neutrality, seriousness, lightness and politeness
  to your advantage)
• Play with your confidence and status (to your
  advantage)
• Speak clearly and look directly at others (to
  make communication work to your advantage)
• Try out more precise words (to be more effective)

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YOU WILL

• Be useful for customer and colleague
  relationships
• Boost your career and gain a winning edge over
  others
• Speak comfortably with anyone at any level
• Increase your confidence and have greater
  credibility
• Do well in performance appraisals
• Have more impact in presentations and interviews

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Reflection and review
Tony Corballis communication skills trainer for
the Employability Unit at London Metropolitan
University

• Think of two things that youre going to take
  away today

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