Routine Message Exercise

Research and Powerless Speech

 Powerless speakers are seen as less trustworthy,

dynamic, attractive, and persuasive.

 Job applicants who used fewer powerless languages

were rated as more competent and employable by

professionals in interviews.

(Green, 1987; Patron et al., 2002)

Powerless Language

Ying Cheng, Ph.D.

Agenda

 Ten Types of Powerless Languages

– Hesitations

– Side particles

– Hedges

– Tag questions

– Accounts/excuses

– Other words to avoid

– Minimizing your role

– Soft pedaling your suggestion

– Uptalking

– Apologies

Hesitations

 Fillers

– Uh

– Ah

– Well

– Um

– You know

 Use silence to pause and collect your thoughts.

Side Particles

 More Fillers

– Like

– Simply

Hedges

 Water Down Convictions

– I think I can handle this project.

– I think I might be able to help you.

– I think I’m a good accountant.

– I need more information.

– Not: I think I need more information.

Hedges

Professional

 May

 Seem to

 Likely

Colloquial

 Sort of

 Kind of

 Somewhat

Effects of Hedges

 Research suggested hedges can undermine persuasive attempts.

– Hedges placed on data statements led to negative perceptions of the policy, source, and argument.

– Colloquial hedges placed on interpretation statements led to more negative evaluations relative to no hedges.

(Durik, Britt, Reynolds, and Storey, 2008)

Using Hedges Judiciously

 Depending on the statement, a hedge may be used:

– For politeness

• I am sort of disappointed.

– When counterexamples are accessible

• If A holds true, your tax liability will be X. However, if B holds

true, your tax liability will be Z.

Tag Questions

 Extra Questions after a Statement

– Isn’t it?

– Wouldn’t it?

Accounts

 Excuses

 Justifications

Other Words to Avoid

 Can’t

 But

 Should have

 Might

 Try

Minimizing Your Role or Contributions

 “I’m just an accountant.”

 “Hi, it’s just me.”

Soft-Pedaling Your Suggestions

 “This is probably a stupid idea, but…”

 “I don’t know if this is worth mentioning, but…”

 “I have a feeling this won’t work, but…”

Uptalking

 Making statements sound like a question

 Conveys tentativeness

 “The meeting is at 5pm?”

Overcoming Uptalking

 Are you a chronic uptalker?

 Make your sentences short when speaking to better

control your tone.

Apologizing

 “Sorry!”

 “Oops, sorry.”

 “Sorry, my bad!”

 “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that.”

 Replace with: “Would you please repeat that?”

Gender Differences or Similarities

 No differences between women and men in their use

of powerless languages

Cultural Differences

 Collective cultures (e.g., Japan) interpret powerless

languages differently.

(Wetzel, 1988)

References Durik, A. M., Britt, M. A., Reynolds, R., and Storey, J. (2008). The effects of

hedges in persuasive arguments. Journal of Language and Social

Psychology, 27(3): 217-234.

Green, K. D. (1987). The Effects of 'Powerful' and 'Powerless' Speech

Styles on Speech Effectiveness in a Non-Courtroom Setting. The North

Dakota Journal of Speech & Theatre. Retrieved November 11, 2015 from

http://www2.edutech.nodak.edu/ndsta/green.htm

Grob, L. M., Meyers, R. A., & Schuh, R. (1997). Powerful/powerless

language use in group interactions: Sex differences or similarities?

Communication Quarterly, 45, 282-303.

Marston, R. (1995). Using powerful language. Retrieved on December 8,

2015 from http://mustang.he.net/~image/nwm/iminart/art0143.html.

Parton, S. R., Siltanen, S. A., Hosman, L. A., & Langenderfer, J. (2002).

Employment interview outcomes and speech style effects. Journal of

Language and Social Psychology, 21(2), 144-161.

Wetzel, P. J. (1988). Are “powerless” communication strategies the

Japanese norm? Language in Society, 17, 555-564.