Non-fluencies (uh, um)

When talk radio hosts need to fill time, they tell a story with long pauses between sentences or clauses. Each period or comma is dragged out, creating the illusion of drama, when of course they're really just watching the clock.

A less extreme version of that trick can cure the "uh"/"um" tendency -- come to full stops, ignore the tendency to fill the silence of the full stops. You can even think, "I've finished that sentence, it's time to stop talking completely."

Also, "uh"s and "um"s are the voice's way to get involved in the thinking process -- the voice has no business being in that process -- it's an intruder -- exclude it -- rudely, if you have to.

When talk radio hosts need to fill time
 

They tell a story.
 

With long pauses between sentences.
 

Or clauses.
 

Each period or comma is dragged out.
 

Creating the illusion of drama.
 

When of course.
 

They're really just watching the clock.
 [/i]

Yes, this can certainly be a problem, since it gives the impression that you aren't really on top of your presentation, even if you're perfectly prepared! Luckily, you've been able to recognize (with your teacher's help) that the problem exists in the first place! Interestingly enough, many people are never aware of this problem.

One of the things you can do is to try and recite some poetry or other text which has a marked sense of rhythm and drama. You can use that to develop where you should place your pauses. Try to savour the silence between lines or sentences, and perhaps film yourself or have someone watch, to comment on the effect. Then, you can move on to newspapers or magazine articles, and try to use your new "silence skills" to inject some drama into those.

In a live presentation setting, you can ask a friend to monitor how often the um's and ah's creep into your speech, and agree on a signal they can use to subtly remind you. If you are signaled, retain your composure and simply be more aware of the sounds your mouth is producing. With practice, you should be able to weed out most of them.

- Have index ready in front of you and use your thumb to keep your spot.
- Practice in front of people before your class
- Picture yourself speaking to a friend
- Drink coffee or another caffeinated beverage before class
- Be more candid in your speaking

I'd say it's often not as big an issue as people think/claim/pretend.

I wrote about it at http://www.curved-vision.co.uk/presentation-skills-blog/presentation-tips/2011/ermmm-a-presentation-filler-or-killer/, to that effect, with a second blog at http://www.curved-vision.co.uk/presenta ... -part-two/ looking at what to do erms in presentations. Got a lot of positive response of twitter etc!

Simon

The start of a presentation is pretty much universally regarded as the most important bit of said presentation. I'm interested in knowing how your technique of using fillers first and then stopping fits in with this. Surely, if as you say fillers make you lose credibility, the key time to avoid them is in the Golden Two Minutes...?

S

prr wrote:I teach at a community college and was told (in an otherwise positive evaluation) that I say "uh" and "um" all the time--that it was very aggravating.

What are some good things I can do (either before or during a class) to eliminate non-fluencies?

I speak a lot and almost always without notes with no uh and ums. If I have to use notes I find I start to um and ah, so for me these little vocalizations occur when I am reading or thinking between phrases.

If you are using notes then try dropping them and see how you do. If not then concentrate on silent pauses between phrases to the point where you are thinking more about the pauses than the phrase. As you slow down you should become more aware and more in control of your vocalizations.

English is not my first language and I needed lots of practice to be able to public speak. Too many uh hu still tho!