Imagine yourself carrying a metal bucket down a concrete stairwell when you trip and drop the bucket. As it clangs down the stairs you wonder whether the noise has just woken the dead! No wonder the dictionary gives this definition of the word clanger: "a conspicuous blunder".
In a presentation the effect can almost be the same. There stands the authority on the subject (assumed if you're giving a presentation on the subject) and a major mispronunciation passes the lips. Uh oh! Does this person really know what they are talking about? Immediately question marks appear over the speaker's credibility.
So for this public speaking tip: Pay attention to pronunciation.
Of course, someone may say, but how are you to know if you are mispronouncing a word if in your own mind that's the way it's said? Good point!
However, taking reasonable precautions can greatly minimize the risk of dropping a pronunciation clanger. Simply go through your notes and your material, and circle any word you are in the least bit not sure about.
Use Online Dictionaries
Then take advantage of the online dictionaries, of which there are many, and use the audio facility where you can actually hear the word being pronounced.
As a shortcut, go to Google and simply enter: "pronunciation [word in question]" and a whole bunch of online dictionaries will come up with the audio feature.
Similarly, if you go to Google and enter: "definition [word in question]" you can go straight to the dictionary definition in one click and then use the volume icon for the audio feature.
My personal favorite is Merriam Webster's online dictionary. Just put Merriam Webster in Google and you will find it easily.
You can also do a little research by putting in a search engine: "top 100 pronunciation errors" or something similar and make sure you are not making any obvious mistakes which seem to catch a lot of people.
Become A Wordsmith
If you regularly give speeches and presentations then you have a good reason to develop an interest in words. A whole host of books are available on common and uncommon words and pronunciations. Just check Amazon and you will see the range. Why not buy a few and fill out your personal library. Grab one regularly and just spend five minutes browsing through taking note of tricky words.
Just a small amount of time spent regularly and consistently like this can yield wonderful results when it comes to your vocabulary and pronunciation. If you are a speaker, set a goal to become a wordsmith!
In Conclusion: Before you make any speech or presentation use this public speaking tip: Check your pronunciation in advance. You will avoid the embarrassment of dropping a clanger, and the audience will not be sidetracked into questioning your authority and credibility!
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