Elocution is a word that is banded about by many people, but many people don’t actually understand what it really means and how you can master the art of speaking. The dictionary definition of elocution is:

elocution

/ˌɛləˈkjuːʃn/

noun

the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.

Now, you’ll notice that according to the definition above, mastering elocution doesn’t involve accent softening (also known as accent reduction or accent neutralisation). This is a common myth that elocutionists are designed to eradicate accents which is simply not true – in fact, as a company, we stand by a strict policy of not advising individuals as to whether they should change their accent. You can find more information on this here.

Of course, in 2024, it’s never been more important to have speech that is clear and concise and having effective communication is key for most job roles nowadays. So let’s take a look at what elocution is in depth and what you can do to improve your speech:

What is elocution?

• Pronunciation:
• Tone:
• Pitch:
• Volume:
• Body Language: 

Even just building up the above areas can help boost your elocution skills.

The Relevance of Elocution in 2024

Although it is fairly obvious as to why elocution is important in today’s world, here are some facts that highlight why you should be investing in this skill:

• 75% of the world’s population fear public speaking
• 20% of UK workers turn down job offers due to communication involvement
• People who are better at reading and speaking in childhood earn over 20% more in wages

Tips for Improving Elocution

There are lots of ways in which you can improve your elocution. The quickest and easiest way to start to build your speaking ability is by putting in a little bit of practice every day. 10-15 minutes (or even 5 minutes at a push) is always going to be better than 0 minutes. Remember, it’s quality over quantity!

There are lots of free resources out there to help you including our free courses: Elocution Essentials and Master The Art of Speaking. You could also explore our free iOS and Android app, Elocution+. Or why not join James’ free 90-minute training? Click here to find the next available date.

Benefits of Mastering Elocution

There are both personal and professional advantages of having good elocution. This includes improved confidence, better public speaking skills and having greater interpersonal communication with others. The impact of effective speaking is not linked to a specific job or a specific type of person, the benefits of elocution affect anybody and everybody.

We’ve popped a video below to give you an idea of what we do here at The Elocution Coach, the UK’s leading elocution company. There are plenty of resources out there for you to get your teeth into, but the first step is to get stuck in!