How to reduce my speed in speaking?

by Preethi Selvin
(India)

I'm too fast in everything when compared to others of my age group... too fast in speaking.. too fast in walking.. too fast in completing a job.. too, too fast in falling to the trap of frustration...


All other things helped me to be competitive... BUT I'M TOO TOO FAST IN SPEAKING... THIS IS WORSE BECAUSE OTHERS FEEL IT HARD TO GRASP WHAT I SAY...

I feel embarrassed repeating the same thing again and again so that others can understand what I am saying... I dream to be a speaker too...

Is it possible for me to reduce my speed in speaking?

Doug's Reply. Here is an excellent video called "Accent Reduction: Tip #1, Always Speak Slowly" that I think you should watch. I'm optimistic that by practicing the techniques in this video you could learn to speak more slowly.



The video was created by Cheryl of SpeakingYourBest.com, and as the title suggests it explains techniques for talking slower. Cheryl is a Speech Pathologist with 30 years experience helping others speak more clearly.

Here are some observations she makes in the video about speaking too fast:

- When you speak too quickly, you don't have time to pronounce the words correctly. That's why people find you hard to understand.

- Speaking very fast does not indicate that you are more intelligent or more fluent. There is really no advantage to talking too rapidly.

- Speaking slower is always better.

- Your goal should not be to speak fast but to be understood.

Next she discusses how to slow down your speech:

- In English, speech rate is determined by how quickly or how slowly we say the vowel sounds in words. (I don't know whether that's true for all languages.)

- Stretching out the vowel sounds slows down your speech. As you slow down, remember to keep your words connected.

- When you speak slowly, your tongue has more time to reach the proper placement for sounds

- Practice: Try repeating sentences more slowly. Here are a couple example sentences:

"Speaking slower is better."

"I'm beginning to speak more slowly."

Say these sentences out loud to yourself, as slow as you can while still being intelligible.

Practice at home, often. Cheryl recommends that you should read aloud every day for two minutes.

Read an article in a magazine, a page in a book, or a story to your son or daughter. It doesn't really matter, as long as you read something.

Focus on prolonging the vowels and saying your words slowly.

You can even practice saying words slower than the normal speaking rate. Get used to this rate. Then incorporate this less rapid rate when talking to other people, especially at work.

As Cheryl advises, speaking slower needs to become a part of who you are so you can make sure that everyone understands your speech.

For more information, you might want to check out her website www.speakingyourbest.com.

Clearly the way to learn to speak more slowly is to practice speaking more slowly.

Best regards,
Douglas
Memory-Improvement-Tips.com

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Nov 08, 2017
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I don’t completely agree
by: Anonymous

Hey I’m a fast talker so trust me when I say I know the frustration of people tuning me out or people not understanding me. I only talk really fast in a face to face conversation though, I have no issues over the phone or while reading. In person I wouldn’t say I talk fast because I’m nervous, it’s just a habit. I also walk fast and eat fast, I’m from the city where people do everything fast but I live in the south where that’s not the case. People are much more slower paced here so when I talk they ask me to repeat myself. I don’t agree that talking slower is always better, slower talkers will bore you. I’ve had professors in college who lost my attention because they spoke in a very slow and monotone speech. I believe speaking in a medium pace (not too fast or too slow) is best. That way you’re understood and you’re keeping people attention. The lady in the video spoke too slow and I stopped watching so no I can’t agree with her.

Mar 21, 2017
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Wonderful
by: Anonymous

I've had difficulties speaking slowly my whole life and it's caused me much anxiety and hurt my self esteem as a result. After reading about stretching your vowels out, I could communicate effectively and I felt a relief that I've never felt before.

I don't mean to overstate this but this video has changed my life for the better.

Doug's Reply. That's wonderful! I'm very glad the video has helped you.

Jan 16, 2017
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Really great help
by: Anonymous

Hey Douglas,
The video helped me in identifying where I speak too fast. But I'm still not able to control my rate of speech. Especially when I'm speaking in public. I'm supposed to give a public speech in two days and in trying to reduce my speed but I lose control over my accent when I see a crowd. Any suggestions? I'm also not a native English speaker.

Dec 08, 2016
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Beautiful video
by: Menon

I am working in a bpo. And this is my first bpo job.
I will practice as per Cheryl's suggestion and get my self improve

Mar 27, 2016
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very fast I speck
by: dev

My rate of speech is very fast after watching this video I am quite sure my will work on this... Thanks

Feb 09, 2016
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Thanx
by: Anonymous

Appreciated...
Hope it'll work.

Jan 11, 2016
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Great video
by: Anonymous

Great. I needed that! Thanks

Doug's Reply. You're welcome. Glad it helped. :)

Nov 11, 2015
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Donya Culbert
by: Donya Culbert

Keep writing.

Oct 23, 2015
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Post
by: Adriene Tarry

That's very impressive post.

Sep 09, 2014
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.
by: Smith

I am working in a BPO. Normally i speak very slow. BUt when i get excited or nervous i speak very fast. Is there any solution for it?

Jun 10, 2014
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Thanks will try this :)
by: Anonymous

I am not recognized at my work because of speed even though i have lot of functional knowledge.. will work on this by using your tips... thanks

Jun 01, 2014
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Fast Talking
by: Gandha Key

I am working with a student who talks very fast, but it is not question of slowing down how he speaks, his speed comes from an inner tension - he starts to sweat and get a dry mouth when he speaks. I am trying to work with that, it's not easy. We do breathing exercises and also look at the influence of school on adult life - speaking in front of a full class.

Nov 25, 2011
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Thanks for advice
by: Sagar Masal

I am having same problem,even the way I speak its so fast!my friend and co-worker make my fun.I will follow you advice.........................Thank you so much again

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