In the wake of the horrific shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the words that we’ve been using in our political discourse may have impacted the situation. Continue reading Sticks and Stones? No. Words Matter.
Tag Archives: Language Use
Are You Speaking Clearly? The Value of Correct Pronunciation (July 2009 Newsletter)
Cheek-SENT-me-high. I’m not kidding. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is the well-known founder of the “flow” theory, which has nothing to do with pronunciation (check him out anyway). His interesting Hungarian name, however, has everything to do with it.
Imagine meeting Mr. Csikszentmihalyi at an event. He introduces himself and hands you a business card. You try to make sense of his name. The way he says it seems to bear no relation to the way it’s spelled. What to do? Keep reading… Continue reading Are You Speaking Clearly? The Value of Correct Pronunciation (July 2009 Newsletter)
Obama’s Inauguration: An Archetype of Leadership Communication
I am so excited to see Barack Obama’s inaugural speech that I can hardly think of anything else. I am not head-over-heels in love with the guy, either. I think of him as just another politician much like all the others, but with a rare gift — the gift of oratory. Continue reading Obama’s Inauguration: An Archetype of Leadership Communication