How to become more articulate

Listen to Yourself Speak

Record yourself in a natural conversation; for example, replay a conference call or have a friend interview you on tape. Listen for technical issues, such as filler words, up talk, monotone, and run-on sentences, as well as any habits that sound awkward or uncomfortable.

One of the best ways to become more articulate is by reading books. Reading books expands vocabulary. Using a variety of words makes conversations more flexible and dynamic. A strong vocabulary provides speakers with the ability to create compelling and thoughtful sentences.

Articulation is being able to express your ideas in a clear and concise manner, the skill to choose apt words to lend more clarity to your thoughts. It’s a unique combination of command over language, a rich vocabulary and appropriate choice of words and phrases.

Muscle-strengthening exercises and controlled breathing help improve the way your words sound. You’ll also learn ways to practice smoother, more fluent speech. Some people with speech disorders experience nervousness, embarrassment, or depression. Talk therapy may be helpful in these situations.

Dysgraphia can make it hard to express thoughts in writing. (You may hear it called “a disorder of written expression.”) Expressive language issues make it hard to express thoughts and ideas when speaking and writing. (You may hear it called a “language disorder” or a “communication disorder.”)

Feeling Tired or Stressed

And when you’re worried about being judged by others or feel embarrassed, you may freeze up or struggle to talk. Anxiety, especially if it crops up when you’re in front of a lot of people, can lead to dry mouth, stumbling over your words, and more troubles that can get in the way of speaking.

It’s common for people to say they struggle to make conversation because they often can’t think of things to say. When talking to someone one on one this may lead to awkward silences. In groups they may be seen as quiet.

Primary word–finding difficulty may occur as an isolated language disturbance or may occur as part of a more extensive cognitive or behavioural syndrome. Secondary word–finding difficulty occurs when a deficit within another cognitive domain interferes with the function of a more or less intact language system.

A ‘spoonerism’ is when a speaker accidentally mixes up the initial sounds or letters of two words in a phrase. The result is usually humorous.

While Spoonerisms can be quite harmless, they can be a sign of more serious learning disabilities such as Dyslexia – especially in children under five years old.

Semantic paraphasia is usually due to sudden brain trauma, such as a stroke or a blow to the head. Your symptoms sound different – like they have developed gradually. According to Williams, that would rule out a stroke, which typically occurs suddenly.

Types of aphasia

Symptoms can range widely from getting a few words mixed up to having difficulty with all forms of communication. Some people are unaware that their speech makes no sense and get frustrated when others don’t understand them. Read more about the different types of aphasia.

Speech anxiety can range from a slight feeling of “nerves” to a nearly incapacitating fear. Some of the most common symptoms of speech anxiety are: shaking, sweating, butterflies in the stomach, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, and squeaky voice.

Aphasia symptoms associated with dementia

This often involves problems finding words and can affect names, even of people they know well. It doesn’t mean they don’t recognise the person or don’t know who they are, they just can’t access the name or get mixed up.

Your doctor will likely give you a physical and a neurological exam, test your strength, feeling and reflexes, and listen to your heart and the vessels in your neck. He or she will likely request an imaging test, usually an MRI, to quickly identify what’s causing the aphasia.

How Long Does it Take to Recover from Aphasia? If the symptoms of aphasia last longer than two or three months after a stroke, a complete recovery is unlikely. However, it is important to note that some people continue to improve over a period of years and even decades.