Your Speech Advantage
By Barbara Christensen, Speech Advantage, LLC
Slowing Those LOOOOOOONG words
The past two “Your Speech Advantage” columns have discussed why slowing your
speech rate is important as well as specific ways to slow your rate. Today we will discuss
another method for slowing your rate and helping others to understand you better. This
method is referred to as slowing multi-syllabic words.
Multi-syllabic words are defined as words that have three or more syllables. It is very
common for non-native speakers to try to rush through those long words. They attempt
to keep up the rate of the conversation by pronouncing these difficult words quickly.
They also attempt to say these words quickly to just get through them! Because they are
spoken so quickly, listeners frequently do not understand them.
Multi-syllabic words must be said slow and steady. They cannot be rushed. Let’s
practice a few multi-syllabic words. First make sure you pronounce ALL of the syllables
slowly and steadily. Then, make sure you stress the syllable that is capitalized.
3 syllable words
medical ME dic al
popular POP u lar
interview IN ter view
extension ex TEN sion
4 syllable words
development de VEL op ment
communicate co MMUN i cate
experiment ex PER i ment
education ed u CA tion
5 syllable words
productivity pro duc TIV i ty
international in ter NA tion al
orientation or i en TA tion
opportunity opp or TUN i ty
Questions and future topics regarding English pronunciation are encouraged for the
“Your Speech Advantage” column. Please contact Barb at Barb@SpeechAdvantage.info
or (608) 663-3719. Additional information is also available at
www.SpeechAdvantage.info.