When you only have a hammer . . . .
There are a number of practical lessons which can be learned from listening to President Trump. Specifically, from his speaking, and not from the TelePromp-ed prepared speeches of his writers.
Let me point to just one, but it is the most obvious and maybe the foundational element that underlies his public speaking.
President Trump has improved in regards to this element, and will probably develop further as he is pressed to know and understand a world of thinking, concepts, calculations, and words he has had little need to grasp.
Yes, I am referring to one of President Trump’s greatest weaknesses, his limited and poor and repeated word choices. His limited vocabulary impacts his rhetorical effectiveness on other levels . . . .
- Clarity
- Variety
- Precision
- Ethos
- Impact
- Feedback
- Believability
- Etc.
On a “positive” note, such a repetitious and limited word repertoire may help him in his identification with some.
If you would like to see an example of how his limited vocabulary affects his speech, just read his letter to Kim Jong Un, which was promoted as directly dictated by President Trump himself . . . .
As you read it, you wonder if it was written in crayon first!
Sounds like a quick note written to a buddy who we missed as he was traveling through our area
“Hey man…..like you want to get together buddy sometime when your in town, we’ll catch up with each other again bout the nuke matter.”
The only missing element was . . . Dear Rocketman . . .
Sorry, but that is what happens when your word choice speaks so loudly, both verbally and non-verbally.
One lesson to be learned from President Trump, is the need to develop, increase, and intentionally use a variety of words which clarify and capture the thoughts.
Speakers live in the world of words. Words are the tools of our trade. Limited tools make the task more difficult. Limited vocabularies cause speakers to . . . .
use a “screwdriver” as a hammer — making words perform in ways they were not intended to work.
Or
seeing everything as a nail, because they only have a hammer — repeatedly hitting everything with the same word.
Suggestion: Add “a word a day” to your daily routine of rhetorical development!
“I hope this was a great, really great….a beautiful…just a great, great point ….you will love …. just love it as you see it … you’ll love it….it is a huge ….. a huge …. and a very, very, very important…a very important point which is being made…..” — This Is Hugely For Trumpian Readers
RhetoricAndHomiletics.Org 