Word Power Made Easy
Sessions 24-27: How to Talk About Speech Habits
Let's learn the words to describe *how* people talk, from the silent to the chatty.
The 10 Speech Habits
In these sessions, we will master 10 key adjectives that describe a person's style of speaking.
- Taciturn
- Laconic
- Inarticulate
- Garrulous
- Banal
- Verbose
- Voluble
- Cogent
- Vociferous
- Loquacious
Disinclined to talk; unresponsive.
The "silent" type who says very little.
The Root: TACEO
(Latin: "to be silent")
Habitually silent or quiet.
The noun form.
An unwillingness to engage in conversation.
From `taceo`.
Unspoken; implied or understood without being said.
"We have a tacit agreement."
From `taceo`.
Prefers to keep silent, often out of shyness or reservation.
Brief and to the point; using few words.
Saying a lot with a little.
The Root: LACON
(Ancient Greek City)
The Spartans were famed for their brief, tough speech.
Struggling to express thoughts coherently; sputtering.
Unable to "join" (`articulus`) words together.
Chattering aimlessly and excessively; rambling.
Talks a lot, but says nothing.
Unoriginal, trite, clichéd.
Speech full of "common" phrases.
Wordy; using more words than necessary.
Full of `verbum` (words).
The Root: VERBUM
(Latin: "word")
Full of words.
From `verbum`.
Word for word.
"He repeated the speech verbatim."
From `verbum`.
An excessive, and often confusing, use of words.
Fluent and rapid; talking with a smooth, "rolling" flow.
The Root: VOLVERE
(Latin: "to roll")
Words "rolling" off the tongue.
From `volvere`.
To roll again; to turn in a circle.
From `volvere`.
To "roll in"; to include as a necessary part.
Logical, forceful, and compelling.
Speech that "drives" you to believe it.
The Root: COGO
(Latin: "to drive together, compel")
A "compelling" argument.
Loud, noisy, clamorous.
"Carrying" (`fero`) a loud "voice" (`vox`).
The Roots: VOX + FERO
(voice)
(to carry)
Carrying a loud voice.
Talkative; wants to "speak" all the time.
(Similar to `Garrulous`, but not as negative).
The Root: LOQUOR
(Latin: "to speak")
Likes to speak.
(alone)
(to speak)
A "speaking alone" stage speech (e.g., "To be or not to be...").
(with)
(to speak)
Informal, conversational language; "speaking with" friends.
(around)
(to speak)
"Speaking around" a topic; a roundabout or evasive way of talking.
From `e-` (out) + `loquor` (to speak).
Fluent and persuasive; "speaking out" with power.
Bonus Root: VENTER
(belly)
(to speak)
One who can "speak from the belly."
An entertainer who "speaks from the belly," making it seem their voice comes from a puppet.
Bonus Root: SOMNUS
(Latin: "sleep")
This root gives us words related to sleepiness (the opposite of a lively speaker!).
Drowsy, sleepy.
"He felt somnolent after the big meal."
(sleep)
(to walk)
A "sleepwalker."
(not)
(sleep)
The inability to get "not" sleep; chronic sleeplessness.
Bonus Root: SOPOR
(Latin: "sleep")
Something that induces sleep.
Causing or inducing sleep.
"The professor's lecture was soporific."
Sessions 24-27 Review
You've learned 10 speech habits and their roots:
- Taciturn (`taceo` - to be silent)
- Laconic (`Lacon` - from Sparta)
- Garrulous & Loquacious (`garrulus` / `loquor`)
- Banal (commonplace)
- Verbose (`verbum` - word)
- Voluble (`volvere` - to roll)
- Cogent (`cogo` - to compel)
- Vociferous (`vox` - voice; `fero` - to carry)
- Inarticulate (`articulus` - joint)
Quiz Time: True or False
Let's test your understanding with questions from the book.
Based on what you've learned, are these statements True or False?
Quiz: True or False (1-10)
1. 'Taciturn' individuals are generally responsive and enjoy engaging in conversations.
2. 'Verbose' speakers use excessive words and may often come across as repetitive.
3. 'Loquacious' describes individuals who talk excessively and dominate conversations.
4. A 'laconic' speech is long and rambling.
5. A 'cogent' argument is logical and compelling.
6. A 'soliloquy' is a speech given by one person "alone".
7. 'Ventriloquism' means "speaking from the heart".
8. 'Somnolent' means "sleepy."
9. 'Soporific' means "exciting."
10. 'Banal' speech is fresh, original, and exciting.
Quiz: True or False (11-15)
11. 'Vociferous' means quiet and shy.
12. 'Voluble' means speaking with a rapid, "rolling" flow.
13. 'Garrulous' and 'Loquacious' are similar in meaning (both talkative).
14. 'Reticent' means eager to speak.
15. 'Circumlocution' is a direct and brief way of speaking.
Quiz: Crossword
Let's test your new vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
Fill in the grid based on the clues provided.
Sessions 24-27 Crossword
ACROSS
- 1. Latin root for "to be silent" (5)
- 2. Latin root for "word" (6)
- 3. Compelling, forceful (10)
- 5. Unoriginal, clichéd (6)
- 7. "Belly-speaker" (13)
- 8. Sleep-inducing (9)
DOWN
- 1. Silent, unresponsive (8)
- 2. Latin root for "sleep" (6)
- 3. Loud, "voice-carrying" (11)
- 4. Rambling (9)
- 6. Brief, to the point (7)
- 9. "Rolling" with fluent words (7)
- 10. Wordy, using too many words (7)
- 11. "To speak" (Root) (6)
- 12. Talkative (10)
Congratulations!
You have completed the presentation for Sessions 24-27.
Next Up: Sessions 28-31
How to Insult Your Enemies