vocabulary

Speakipedia Podcast #33: Lucille OssaiSpeakipedia Podcast #33: Lucille Ossai

Speakipedia Podcast #33: Lucille Ossai

Transcript:  Dave Bricker (00:02) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence? This is Speakipedia Media…

6 months ago
Speakipedia Podcast #28: Rich HopkinsSpeakipedia Podcast #28: Rich Hopkins

Speakipedia Podcast #28: Rich Hopkins

Transcript:  Dave Bricker (00:02) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence? This is Speakipedia Media…

8 months ago
Speakipedia Podcast # 15:<br>Simone VincenziSpeakipedia Podcast # 15:<br>Simone Vincenzi

Speakipedia Podcast # 15:<br>Simone Vincenzi

  Transcript Dave Bricker: Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia…

11 months ago
UxoriousUxorious

Uxorious

Uxorious describes a person, typically a husband, who is excessively fond of or affectionately submissive toward their wife. It's often…

1 year ago
PedanticPedantic

Pedantic

Pedantic means being overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning, often emphasizing the minutiae of knowledge rather…

1 year ago
ForeshadowingForeshadowing

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing can appear in subtle clues or explicit warnings within a dialogue, setting descriptions, or through a character’s thoughts or…

1 year ago
OratoricalOratorical

Oratorical

Oratory is the art of speaking. And Oratorical relates to the art or practice of public speaking. An oratorical speech…

1 year ago
Nonfiction Writing and the One-sided Sales ConversationNonfiction Writing and the One-sided Sales Conversation

Nonfiction Writing and the One-sided Sales Conversation

Business, technology, and how-to books can be viewed as one-sided sales conversations. Though the author may hope to sell products…

1 year ago
How to Produce Audiobooks with Amazon ACXHow to Produce Audiobooks with Amazon ACX

How to Produce Audiobooks with Amazon ACX

This article explains how to produce and market a professional quality audiobook using Amazon ACX. Through ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange),…

1 year ago
Tabs, Indents, and Margins: How to use the Tab RulerTabs, Indents, and Margins: How to use the Tab Ruler

Tabs, Indents, and Margins: How to use the Tab Ruler

This article explains the tab ruler found on every word processor and typesetting application. Understanding the simple and elegant split…

1 year ago
The Grammar of Book DesignThe Grammar of Book Design

The Grammar of Book Design

Are images analogous to words? Is what makes a sentence sound "right" the same thing that makes an image "pop"…

1 year ago
Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2

Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2

Part 1 of Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover critiqued "professional" covers taken from Amazon's Editor's choice…

1 year ago
Book Design Basics – Dashes, Hyphens and DotsBook Design Basics – Dashes, Hyphens and Dots

Book Design Basics – Dashes, Hyphens and Dots

This section on dashes, hyphens and dots goes beyond typographic aesthetics to explore how we can communicate more effectively as…

1 year ago
Tips For Book Cover DesignTips For Book Cover Design

Tips For Book Cover Design

Most book designers make the same errors. One sore spot for me and with many of my university design students,…

1 year ago
AdynatonAdynaton

Adynaton

Adynaton. Pronounced ad-uh-NAY-ton, is a form of hyperbole that describes something so exaggerated, it's impossible. It's like saying, 'You'll get…

1 year ago

Antimetabole

Antimetabole—pronounced an-ti-muh-TAB-uh-lee—involves repeating words in successive clauses, but in reversed order. Listen to Winston S. Churchill’s famous example: 'This is…

1 year ago

Circumlocution

Circumlocution involves using unnecessarily wordy and indirect language to describe something that could be expressed more succinctly. It’s often used…

1 year ago

Anecdote

Anecdote. Technically, an anecdote is a short narrative about a real incident or person, usually intended to illustrate or support…

1 year ago

Catechresis

Catechresis is a bold, often startling use of language where a word is used in a way that dramatically changes…

1 year ago

Chiasmus

Chiasmus, pronounced ky-AZ-mus. Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by…

1 year ago

Epizeuxis

Epizeuxis is the emphatic repetition of a word, with no other words in between. It’s used to highlight a strong…

1 year ago

Euphony

Euphony refers to the quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words. It's a…

1 year ago

Exordium

Exordium—the introductory part of a speech, where you set the stage and prepare your audience for what’s to come. The…

1 year ago

Extemporize

To extemporize is to speak or perform without preparation. Essentially, it's improvising.  This skill is invaluable for speakers who need…

1 year ago

Diatribe

A diatribe is a forceful and bitter verbal attack. It’s often a prolonged discourse full of passion and anger, making…

1 year ago

Epistrophe

Epistrophe is used to emphasize a point and create a memorable rhythm in speech. A classic example comes from Abraham…

1 year ago

Demagogue

A demagogue is a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than through rational…

1 year ago

Epithet

Epithet—a descriptive phrase that expresses a characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. It’s used to add to a person’s…

1 year ago

Harangue

A harangue is a lengthy and aggressive speech, typically used to express a strong opinion and persuade or rally an…

1 year ago

Climax

Climax. Yeah, we all know what that is … but in the context of storytelling and public speaking, a climax…

1 year ago

Colloquialism

Colloquialisms are informal words or phrases that people use in everyday speech but which might not be suitable for formal…

1 year ago

Diction

Diction refers to the choice of words and style of expression that a writer or speaker uses. The diction in…

1 year ago

Ethos

Ethos—a rhetorical device that refers to the credibility or ethical appeal of the speaker. Ethos is crucial to persuading an…

1 year ago

Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. It's a powerful tool used…

1 year ago

Alliteration

Alliteration. Alliteration artfully arranges adjacent and alike initial sounds in closely clustered words. It’s a superb stylistic strategy that stitches…

1 year ago

Dysphemism

Dysphemism is the use of a harsh or more offensive word instead of a more polite or agreeable one. It's…

1 year ago

Euphemism

A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt…

1 year ago

Cacophony

Cacophony refers to a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, used to describe a situation where a lot of noise makes…

1 year ago

Hyperbaton

Hyperbaton—a literary device that involves altering the normal order of words in a sentence for emphasis, to create a dramatic…

1 year ago

Hyperbole

Hyperbole—an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally but used to grab attention, emphasize a point, or…

1 year ago

Allegory

Allegory is a narrative technique in which characters and events represent broader themes and ideas. Through allegory, storytellers explore complex…

1 year ago

Monomyth

The monomyth, or the hero's journey, is a common narrative archetype that involves a hero who goes on an adventure,…

1 year ago

Metaphor

Metaphor—a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain…

1 year ago

Metonymy

Metonymy—a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a…

1 year ago

Monologue

A monologue is a long speech given by one person.. In a theatrical context, a monologue allows a character to…

1 year ago

Litotes

Litotes—a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite. It’s often used to convey modesty…

1 year ago

Logos

Along with ethos and pathos, logos is one of the three classical persuasive techniques. Logos appeals to logic and reason.…

1 year ago

Malapropism

Malapropism—the misuse of a word by confusing it with a similar-sounding word, resulting in nonsensical, often bituminous statements. A classic…

1 year ago

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters, or actions are placed side by side…

1 year ago

Orotund

Orotund refers to a style of speech that is rounded, full, and imposing. It describes a voice or tone that…

1 year ago

Oxymoron

Oxymoron—a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. It's used to create a dramatic effect or to…

1 year ago

Impromptu

Impromptu, which refers to anything done without being planned or rehearsed. In the context of public speaking, it means giving…

1 year ago

Pacing

Pacing is the speed at which a story unfolds or information is delivered. It plays a crucial role in maintaining…

1 year ago

Irony

Irony—a figure of speech where the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning. Here’s a soundbite from the…

1 year ago

Non Sequitur

A non sequitur is a statement that does not logically follow from the previous statement, often resulting in an absurd…

1 year ago

Oratory

Oratory is the art of speaking. And Oratorical relates to the art or practice of public speaking. An oratorical speech…

1 year ago

Motif

A motif is a recurring theme, subject, or idea that appears throughout a literary work, which helps to develop the…

1 year ago

Narrative Hook

Narrative Hook—an opening to a story that grabs the audience's attention so that they want to keep reading or listening.…

1 year ago

Homiletics

Homiletics—the art of preaching or writing sermons.  It involves the construction of a message and the effective delivery of that…

1 year ago

Aphorism

An Aphorism is a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, ‘Actions speak louder than words.' These short,…

1 year ago

Aposiopesis

Aposiopesis is a rhetorical device where the speaker deliberately breaks off and leaves the sentence unfinished, letting the audience complete…

1 year ago

Rhetorical Question

A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point rather than to solicit an answer. It’s a common…

1 year ago

Asyndeton

Asyndeton involves omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. This can create a fast-paced and concise effect, adding urgency or…

1 year ago

Repartee

Repartee refers to a quick, witty reply or conversation. Repartee enlivens discussions or debates with humor and sharpness. In public…

1 year ago

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, particularly the use of figures of speech and other…

1 year ago

Red Herring

Pay attention! This video will reveal new insights into Barnabus T. Hollings famous HBX Success Method—a sure path to instantaneous…

1 year ago

Periphrasis

Periphrasis is a rhetorical device that involves using excessive and longer phrases to express an idea that could be conveyed…

1 year ago

Peroration

Peroration refers to the concluding part of a speech, designed to inspire enthusiasm and drive home the speaker's key points…

1 year ago

Panegyric

Panegyric, a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something, often used to commend achievements or honor…

1 year ago

Persona

In literature and public speaking, persona refers to the social face or character that a speaker or writer presents to…

1 year ago

Parody

Parody is a form of satire that imitates the style of a particular genre, work, or artist in a way…

1 year ago

Pleonasm

Pleonasm, which means using more words than necessary to convey meaning, often redundantly. ‘I saw it with my own eyes'…

1 year ago

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton, a stylistic device that involves the use of multiple conjunctions in close succession, often where they are not grammatically…

1 year ago

Prolepsis

Though it might sound like a stomach problem, prolepsis is a rhetorical device that involves anticipating and answering potential objections…

1 year ago

Quintilian

Quintilian sounds like a huge number, but Quintilian was an ancient Roman educator, known for his influential work on rhetoric…

1 year ago

Paronomasia

Paronomasia, or punning, involves using words that sound similar but have different meanings, often to humorous effect. 'Time flies like…

1 year ago

Pathos

Pathos, a rhetorical tool used to appeal to the audience's emotions, often to persuade or move them to action. That…

1 year ago

Paralipsis

Paralipsis, a rhetorical device that involves bringing up a subject by either denying it or pretending to pass over it.…

1 year ago

Paradox

Paradox, a statement or proposition that, despite sound reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable…

1 year ago

Pathetic Fallacy

Pathetic Fallacy is a literary device where human emotions are attributed to aspects of nature or inanimate objects, often to…

1 year ago

Prosody

Prosody encompasses elements like stress, intonation, and timing, crucial for conveying emotions and meanings effectively in spoken language. Think of…

1 year ago

Syncrisis

Syncrisis is a rhetorical device that involves reframing an argument by redefining it. Unlike a “straw man” argument, which misrepresents…

1 year ago

Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa. It…

1 year ago

Tautology

Tautology is the repetitive use of phrases or words that have similar meanings, essentially saying the same thing twice. My…

1 year ago

Elocution

Elocution. And no, elocution is not what happens when you touch a high-voltage cable. Elocution is the art of clear…

1 year ago

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist is a German word meaning 'spirit of the age' or 'spirit of the times.' It refers to the dominant…

1 year ago

Verisimilitude

Verisimilitude is the appearance of being true or real in a literary work. It helps in making a story or…

1 year ago

Tone

Tone in writing and speaking refers to the attitude or approach that the author or speaker takes toward the subject…

1 year ago

Tricolon

Tricolon is a rhetorical device that involves the use of three parallel clauses, phrases, or words, which happen to increase…

1 year ago

Understatement

An understatement is a figure of speech where a situation or feeling is made to seem less important or less…

1 year ago

Vernacular

Vernacular refers to the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular region or country. In literature…

1 year ago

Zeugma

Zeugma is a figure of speech where a word, usually a verb or an adjective, is applied to more than…

1 year ago

Syllepsis

Syllepsis is not what happens after you’ve eaten too much spicy chili. Syllepsis is a figure of speech in which…

1 year ago

Polyptoton

Polyptoton, a stylistic device where a word is repeated in a sentence but in a different form, enhancing emphasis through…

1 year ago

Syllogism

Syllogism is a form of logical reasoning where a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions. A classic…

1 year ago

Soliloquy

A soliloquy is a speech delivered by a character in a play or other literary work, who is alone on…

1 year ago

Solecism

A solecism is a grammatical mistake or nonstandard usage in speech or writing, such as a misplaced modifier or incorrect…

1 year ago

Scansion

Scansion is the process of analyzing a poem's meter by marking the stresses in each line and determining the metrical…

1 year ago

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as' to highlight similarities explicitly.…

1 year ago

Similitis

If you’ve never heard the word “similitis” before, that’s okay. I made it up. But before you revoke my literary…

1 year ago