Posted by Dorothea Stuart
Yesterday I was given my own copy of the book Um... by Michael Erard in which he talks about the everyday occurance of verbal blunders, including Spoonerisms (I'll ride my well boiled icicle), Freudian slips and speech disturbances such as ums...and ers...
Erard has a full chapter where he talks very positively about the popularity and effectiveness of Toastmasters International: "a self-help public-speaking club founded more than eighty years ago,[which] is to public speaking what General Electric is to lightbulbs."
He discusses Toastmasters emphasis on removing or reducing ums, ers, and filler words.He suggests that these are all more common and acceptable in everyday conversation than in prepared speeches. However, Erard seems pleased to have heard a winning contest speech by Randy Harvey which was the only speech with verbal blunders.
My own conclusion is that it's worth striving to reduce blunders and fillers if they're at a level where they irritate or distract your audience. However a small number will probable not be noticed and may even endear you to your listeners.
Yesterday I also listened to some National Public Radio clips from the Diane Rehm show (which is celebrating 30 years on the air). And what do you know...in conversation Barack Obama has lots of ums, ers etc.(19 second clip)
In 2000 Diane Rehm was the first radio talk show host to interview a President in the Oval Office. And you'll hear a filler "you know" from Bill Clinton.(11 second clip)
Read more about Diane Rehm on NPR
