How to increase your vocabulary
Problems with putting thoughts into words are familiar to many. Difficulties are not always associated with insufficient vocabulary, although the importance of a rich personal vocabulary should not be downplayed. Why do people who have no difficulty writing texts become surprisingly tongue-tied during live communication?
Perhaps the habit of simplifying and replacing words with gestures, interjections and repetition of the simplest phrases arises from a lack of communication. The inability to express one’s feelings and thoughts coherently and clearly interferes with understanding and creates a less than pleasant impression of the speaker. An obvious way to develop speech is by reading good fiction. Sooner or later, quantity will turn into quality, and speech will become expressive. We offer you several manuals containing techniques that will speed up the process of mastering the skills of bright and competent oral speech.
Radislav Gandapas “Kama Sutra for the speaker”
The title of the book is not only a marketing ploy and a provocation. Giving the title to his work, the author proceeded from the fact that everything done with pleasure is crowned with success. Another argument in favor of this title, according to Radislav Gandapas, is that the speaker has some kind of intimate connection with the audience, and the speaker in this case must take a male position. This analogy is confirmed by the examples given in the book. The Kama Sutra for the Speaker examines important issues that arise in the process of speaking or communicating: how to cope with anxiety, how to build the outline of a speech, how to attract and maintain attention, how eye contact and motor skills work.
The book will be useful to everyone who organizes presentations, conducts seminars, participates in conferences, etc.
Books on how to develop public speaking skills
How to develop speaking skills? Do you need to practice more in front of the mirror or can you improve your diction? Believe me, it will be quite difficult to cope with this task on your own, but if you have a selection of books, it will be much easier.
No. 11. “Black rhetoric. The power and magic of words" - Karsten Bredemeier
(Self-development)
About the author: The author is a fairly well-known specialist in the field of business consulting. He is also considered one of the best communication trainers in Europe.
About the book:
The book teaches manipulation by all methods and rhetorical means. The book explains how to properly communicate with an interlocutor, teaches not just communication, but resourcefulness, and not succumbing to various provocations.
It will be useful for those who want to learn the art of dialogue, as well as public speaking.
Quote:
“Irony is the Trojan horse of verbal acrobatics, self-irony is a minefield for those who use it.”
Buy at Litres for 339 rubles
No. 12. “I speak and they listen to me. Lessons in practical rhetoric" - Nina Zvereva
(Self-development)
About the author: The author is not only a writer, but also a journalist, a member of the Academy of Russian Television. She also works as a trainer and has written a huge number of books.
About the book:
An excellent practical guide for those who need to give a speech, and is suitable for any occasion. Even a sophisticated reader who is familiar with similar books will like it.
Behind all the recommendations is an author with his own experience and feelings. The book is written easily and expressively. Each line contains a lot of useful information. The book will not only help you perform, but will also remain in your memory.
Quote:
“A pause is a great aid in managing the room and maintaining discipline.”
Buy on Litres for 299 rubles
No. 13. "Revelations of a Speaker" - Scott Berkun
(Self-development)
About the Author: Scott Berkun is an accomplished speaker and writer. But little is known about him, except that she writes books.
About the book:
In this very practical book, the author decided to collect a large number of tips, as well as life hacks, which will certainly allow you to prepare well for a performance of any scale and level.
The author will also tell you how to cope with fear of an audience, and what nuances you should consider when preparing for your speech.
Quote:
“If the topic doesn’t inspire and energize you, how will it energize and energize the audience?”
Buy at Litres for 449 rubles
No. 14. “Ancient Oratory” - Andrey Kozarzhevsky
(Self-development)
About the author: Andrey Kozarzhevsky is an excellent specialist in the field of classical philology.
About the book:
If we talk about the ancient Greeks, they were always distinguished by the fact that they were very eloquent. In ancient Greece, philosophers and politicians could master words no worse than tragedians and poets.
The author dedicated this material to the speakers of the classical era. The book examines the works and speeches of Cicero, Aristotle, Demosthenes, and Plato.
Quote:
“Speech is composed of three parts: the speaker, the subject about which he is speaking, and the person to whom the speaker is addressing; the audience represents the final goal of the speech.”
No. 15. “Speak and Conquer” - Victoria Borisova
(Self-development)
About the author: The author is a philosopher and psychologist by training. At one time she worked as a business coach.
About the book:
Hundreds of books were written at one time about the art of oratory, as well as proper communication. But the author assures that in our century the old principles no longer work. The main problem, according to the author, is behavior “like a robot.”
In this publication you will learn the secrets of communication. The book pays special attention to how sincere the speaker is. Communication between buyer and seller, subordinate and boss, children and parents must certainly be as natural as possible.
Quote:
“Success is moving from one failure to another with increasing enthusiasm.”
No. 16. "Oratory. Pretend to be an expert." - Chris Steward
(Developmental Psychology)
About the author: The author is a writer, psychologist and blogger.
About the book:
Surely you have encountered the need to make a speech in public. And a book on public speaking can come in handy while studying, at a birthday party or at a wedding.
The author talks about how to properly structure a speech and gives some tips on the correct use of quotes. You will also find in the book tips on memorizing a prepared speech.
Quote:
“Smart speakers always end on a dramatic note.”
No. 17. “The psychology of persuasion. 50 Proven Ways to Be Persuasive - Robert Cialdini
(Self-development)
About the author: The author is a popular psychologist from America who became famous thanks to his books.
About the book:
The book was written in a lively and easy language, as well as in a fairly convenient question-and-answer form. You will receive a lot of theory as well as actionable advice.
The authors decided to dedicate the book to the psychology of communication. Thanks to this publication, you will not only be able to learn all the techniques, but also understand the mechanisms of communication themselves.
Quote:
“People are often confused about the various reasons that led them to choose a particular course of action.”
I. B. Golub, D. E. Rosenthal “Secrets of good speech”
According to textbooks by D.E. Rosenthal and I.B. Golub studied Russian for several generations of philologists, journalists, and editors. The masters reveal the secrets of correct speech and help get rid of mistakes. The language of the book is simple and understandable to everyone, so anyone can learn the “Secrets of Good Speech”, regardless of age and level of training. In an entertaining way, the authors talked about what a beautiful and correct speech should be like, and revealed the techniques of oratory. The material is easily perceived using examples of excerpts from the works of Russian writers and poets.
"The Oddities of Our Language" - Nigel Brown
The book is called “Oddities of Our Language” and was written by an English-speaking author, but it is not about English at all. However, it’s not about Russian either. Nigel Brown explores the appearance of borrowed words in other languages, and they almost always coincide in both Russian and English. So in “Weird Things of Our Language” we act as citizens of the world, and at the same time we learn where a huge number of words come from and whether they have changed their meaning over time.
Tatyana Kulikovskaya “Expanding the vocabulary of children 2-4 years old”
Speech therapist Tatyana Kulikovskaya wrote this book so that parents could teach their child correct speech. Teaching children begins with onomatopoeic words: meow-meow, aw-aw, etc. and gradually moves on to more complex words. Lessons with your child will not take more than 10 minutes a day, but the basics of speaking will be laid. The benefit is necessary if the child already has speech problems. With the help of this book, parents will help their child learn simple words and become familiar with phenomena and objects.
“The Living and the Dead Word” – Nora Gal
The book by translator Nora Gal was written more than 40 years ago, but over the past ten years it has been republished just a dozen times. It has not become outdated at all and even gained a new breath with the advent of the Internet, because all the principles of the “living word” have become relevant again.
To become a good translator, it is not enough to know a foreign language well; you also need to have a brilliant sense of all the subtleties of your native one. Nora Gal is an excellent translator, so all her advice on enriching your own speech and getting rid of verbal garbage was priceless 40 years ago, and now, and in 40 years will also come in handy (if we don’t all start speaking Chinese).
Olga Gromova “No Bib”
The series was developed specifically for children and includes, in addition to “No Bibika,” the books “Top-Top,” “Boom,” “Don’t Cry, Bunny” and others. You will be able to talk to your child by showing him pictures and engaging him in communication with gestures and words. Kids enjoy participating in games and, along the way, learn new phenomena, objects and their names.
The book contains colorful, large illustrations that are accessible to children. Simple texts compiled by a specialist are interesting to children and encourage them to pronounce new words. In addition to the main text, the book contains recommendations for parents to help teach their child to communicate with words and gestures.
© Elena Staretskaya, BBF.RU
Fiction
Most serious works of art were studied in school. This was not done in vain: while reading the classics, a person gets acquainted with the basic concepts of morality, the basic principles of life, history, culture, and expands his horizons with various terms.
Most modern literature has become formulaic and primitive - in classical fiction you will find much more useful thoughts and expressions to enrich your language. Your speech will sound more refined and correct. It is not for nothing that it is believed that the best books that develop speech are classic books.
Pay attention to the following books that develop vocabulary:
- F. M. Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment”, “Idiot”;
- M. A. Bulgakov “The Master and Margarita”, “Heart of a Dog”, “Notes of a Young Doctor”;
- I. S. Turgenev “Fathers and Sons”, “Notes of a Hunter”, “Noble Nest”;
- L. N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”, “Sevastopol Stories”;
- E. M. Remarque “Three Comrades”;
- D. London "Martin Eden".
The last book, by the way, is partly autobiographical. It is useful to read such books - you will be able to feel the author’s era from the inside, appreciate the historical and cultural situation of that time and better understand other works of this writer.
Scientific literature
Scientific literature is not at all boring books about new research by scientists. Often, such materials, which simultaneously develop speech and vocabulary, help to better understand what is happening around.
You will definitely come across new terms, thanks to which you will learn to explain what is happening more competently and concisely. From the outside, you will look like a scientifically savvy person, which will undoubtedly add points to you as an interlocutor.
It is recommended to study the following books:
- about evolutionary biology - R. Dawkins “The Selfish Gene”, “The Greatest Show on Earth”, “The Blind Watchmaker”;
- about psychology - E. Muir “Self-confidence”, D. Ariely “The whole truth about lies”, R. Cialdini “Psychology of influence”;
- about physics and mathematics - D. Derbyshire “Simple Obsession”, M. Kaku “Physics of the Impossible”, S. Hawking “Three Books about Space and Time”;
- about political science - E. Fromm “Flight from Freedom”, N. Machiavelli “The Prince”.
Get a subscription to scientific magazines and newspapers. Scientific discoveries are a very interesting and amazing topic. Speech improves through diversity: it is necessary to read books of different styles so that the vocabulary is more extensive.
In addition, this way you will allow your brain to rest - it needs to be constantly “switched” between types of learning activities so that the effectiveness of your aspirations does not decrease.
To begin, choose the direction that interests you most. And then read the book in a direction you never understood - you will discover a lot of new things if you don't close the volume in the first pages and have patience.
Vladimir Nabokov. Pinhole camera
BUY A BOOK
Nabokov was nominated four times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. The writer's books are famous for their unpredictable plots and subtle work with the emotions of the characters. The novel “Camera Obscura” fully corresponds to Nabokov’s signature style and can rightfully be considered one of the most outstanding works of the 20th century.
The main character of the novel “Camera Obscura” is art critic Bruno Kretschmar. His life was wonderful: an outstanding career, beloved daughter and wife. However, everything changes when Bruno meets a poor young girl working as an usher at the cinema. He falls in love and this feeling seems to him to be the only real one in the world. However, the name “Camera Obscura” is not accidental - everything that happens is just a distorted and inverted image of reality.
Medicine for smart people. Modern aspects of evidence-based medicine for thinking patients
BUY A BOOK
Forewarned is forearmed! This also applies to health. The book “Medicine for the Smart. Modern aspects of evidence-based medicine for thinking patients” was written by the best Russian doctors about the most common diseases that active young people may encounter.
“Medicine for smart people. Modern aspects of evidence-based medicine for thinking patients" will help you better understand how the body works, and therefore maintain health and youth for as long as possible. The book will help you achieve a comfortable life and understand the latest advances in medicine. It contains recommendations from doctors of almost all specializations, including endocrinologists, cardiologists, neurologists, dermatologists and others.
Dictionaries
Dictionaries should not be underestimated - they also significantly increase your vocabulary, like special books for speech development. Just open them from time to time, remember the expressions using associations. This way they will be remembered better.
Pay attention to these dictionaries:
- Rosenthal D. E., Telenkova M. A. “Dictionary-reference book of linguistic terms”;
- Dahl dictionaries.
Books can significantly improve your vocabulary and develop your speech. Which one is better to choose is up to you, but it is advisable to read something that relates to classical fiction or modern scientific literature. Don’t forget about philosophy, poetry, and special literature for speech development.
Jane Hawking. Be Hawking
BUY A BOOK
We are sure that you are familiar with at least one work of Stephen Hawking. If not, we recommend starting with A Brief History of Time. This unique book opens up the opportunity for the average reader to understand astrophysics. But now we want to recommend to you the publication “Being Hawking,” written by the first wife of the brilliant scientist after his death.
The book tells the story of Stephen Hawking as his family knew him. Despite his health problems, the scientist was able to build an outstanding career, teach millions of people about space from a scientific point of view, and raise a family. “Being Hawking” helps you look at life from a new angle and understand that the real obstacles to happiness and development are only in our own minds.
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" Stephen Covey
This book introduces the reader to the skills of highly developed intellectual people. Many ordinary people, having analyzed themselves, can state that they are often late for meetings, do not like to work, and do not know how to plan. As a result, they do not receive enough money and results from any activity. To change your life, you need to adopt a number of habits that are characteristic of highly effective people. These habits include: identifying primary goals, formulating ways to achieve goals, creating conditions for strictly following the chosen path. In addition, all skills should be divided into knowledge, skills and desires. This will help you use them more efficiently.
John Fowles. Magus
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“The Magus” is the fundamental work of the outstanding British writer John Fowles. You can re-read it again and again and each time find new meanings laid down by the author. The novel tells about the secrets of the Greek island of Thraxos, where an eccentric millionaire conducts merciless psychological experiments.
John Fowles himself said that “The Magus” adapts to the reader and can be interpreted in any way. However, this does not stop the author’s fans from searching for the true meaning and makes them re-read the novel again and again. Can you solve the mysteries of the island of Fraxos? And what will meet you at the end of this adventure?
Erich Fromm. To have or to be?
BUY A BOOK
Erich Fromm had a significant influence on the development of sociology, psychology and philosophy of the 20th century. Most likely, you are familiar with his book “The Art of Loving,” where the scientist explores the phenomenon of love and tells how to love and be loved from a psychological point of view. “To Have or to Be” is an equally interesting work, where the focus is on a materialistic society and relationships formed according to the principle “You - to me, I - to you.”
Fromm explores the difference between being and having. The first implies true experiences of every moment of life in its entirety, the second puts material culture at the forefront. Erich Fromm, in his work “To Have or to Be,” tries to understand what is more important and to help the reader understand this issue.
