The Spoken Word – Communication
Speech 5 from the Competent Communication Manual – Your Body Speaks
I’ve got something to tell you.
In the beginning was the word.
What word?
The spoken word?
The written word? Who spoke the word? What language was the word?
And the word was God.
No, it was Logos.
Language is used to transport/transmit culture.
I was already talking English in kindergarten. Before that we spoke Czech at home.
Now I’ve lived in Austria over 22 years and the word here is spoken in German. But here at the UN, the working language is English. So why did I join Toastmasters?
Why not the choir? Or a drama club? Or the gardening club? The skiing club, the health club, the bible club? There are lots of social clubs here at the VIC. Why did I join Toastmasters?
Because I am a communicator. But the words you say are only 7 – 10 percent of what people perceive.
The word may also be written: in sand, in chalk, in ink, in blood. When I prepare a speech for toastmasters, I like to write it down. Then I don’t even need to read it. I can just recite it. Sometimes it’s helpful to have a few cards with key words written on them, instead of papers, or books, or PowerPoint slides.
Last week I co-moderated an event called the “True Family Award”. It was attended by lots of different people who all came for lots of different reasons. Seven families were awarded and had an opportunity to say a few words. There was also a guest speaker who talked about attachment theory. She was good. She talked about children, little children. She spoke in German. Mama ich, selber ich, runter, ich ich
A few years ago I delivered a speech on behalf of 44 NGOs to the CTBTO NPT conference.
I had to read a 15 minute speech in 10 minutes. You can read it on line.
There’s so much I’d like to tell you.
We have ideas, concepts – express them in words, they can become reality. That’s life, that’s communication.
It starts from desire, emotion, longing, impulse.
I want to connect.
The words are just the instrument, the tool, the means, to communicate.
Love connects, moves, travels, motivates. I want to share unconditional love. With you.
Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. (Viktor Hugo)