Page:How and Why Library 518.jpg



Listening and Talking
Skill in Both are Necessary for the Beautiful Art of Conversation—What Makes a Pleasant Voice—Do You Say "Yes" and "No" as You Should?—The Sarcastic Person, the Prosy Person and Other Kinds of Persons You Don't Want to Be.

Very often young people complain that they do not know what to talk about in society. Talk about pleasant things. The German poet, Heine, has said: "God has given us speech in order that we may say pleasant things to our friends." Then a pleasant voice, low, clear, with upward inflection, makes the most ordinary words sound pleasantly in the ear. Don't let your voice or your moth sag at the corners. Look straight at the person who is talking to you. A half open mouth, a vacant stare, a wandering eye and restlessness, are all ill-bred. Then, in answering, speak distinctly. Don't whine or mumble or shout.

USE THE SIMPLER WORD AND AVOID SLANG
There are so many little niceties of speech. Did you ever notice that the best books, and the stories that you love to read again are written in the simplest language? So it should be in speaking. Always use the shorter and simpler word. "Home," for instance, is better than "residence." It means more. You should say: "I am going to bed," not: "I think I shall retire to my room for the night."

And with so many good words in the dictionary, it seems a pity that anyone should use the slang and careless talk of the street. Don't say that a thing is "fierce" or call an entertainment a "bum show," boys.

And girls, such expressions as "my goodness" and "did you ever" mean nothing and sound silly. Don't say "awfully sweet," "perfectly elegant" and "just terrible" to describe very ordinary things. Overdressing your ideas is in as bad taste as overdressing your person.

HOW TO SAY "YES" AND "NO"
Don't say "uh-huh" in answering a question, or "what!" if you failed to understand. Say: "Yes, mama," "No, Mrs. Adams." "Yes 422