In June 2013, I spoke for eleven painstaking minutes to more than 106 Quebec Community Newspapers Association attendees. It was my first formal speech as the newly hired executive director. After, I was surprised to learn that my employer was secretly evaluating my speech. He described my speech as light-hearted, good-natured, engaging, and at times, goofy. Additionally, he addressed my proclivity for dropping Gs and omitting the letter H, for example, when I pronounce the number three—trees, and welcomin, for welcoming. In bold letters, he recommended that I focus on enunciating and joining Toastmasters.
Instead, I reviewed the video of my speech. Indeed, I was in drop-down mode. I dropped the ‘G” and “H” in the following words: Think (tink), this (tis) and thing (ting). While I sounded the G in my chopped-up Ting, I dropped the G in the following words: Volunteering (Volunteerin), happening (happenin).
We all do it
I didn’t know about letter dropping. The handy and valuable “ING” verb ending is subject to G-dropping, most commonly when it’s being used as a present participle or as the present-progressive verb form. It is from the Old English “ENDE” present participle once prevalent in opera and poetry. I never pronounce the “G” unless it was part of the word’s root, like in “ring” or “sting.” For the words “ringing” or “stinging,” I wouldn’t pronounce the final G. It’s not uncommon for Spanish speakers who have learned English to drop letters. They have the habit of mispronouncing the words “thin” for “thing” and “think” the same, shaving off the final G and the K, another letter we often drop. They all end up sounding “thin.”
Interestingly, an associate whose first language is Spanish suggested the English “ING” ending should sound like the “IN” in the Spanish word “CINCO,” where your throat closes just before you get to the last syllable “CO.” Your tongue must not touch your teeth or the roof of your mouth when you end the word.
Try it? Now, slightly stretch out the corners of your lips at the end. Something. Something. Right? Something else to consider while presenting a keynote speech? If you are dropping the “G” and “H” bombs, you will likely drop other letters. If we drop the “G,” are we dropping other letters? Yes, we are.
The history of dropping the “H” is less known but has been called “AITCH” dropping, the deletion of the “H” sound. H-dropping was perceived as a sign of careless speech, yet this is unfair. G-dropping doesn’t have this judgment. The problem may rest because we speak too fast in everyday speech without an evaluator or mentor. Eventually, without intervention, the dropping of letters becomes commonplace.
Dropping G and H bombs during an ice-breaker
When I joined Toastmasters in 2017, my ice-breaker was titled, “Too old for journalism school,” In my opening sentence, I said, “TIrteen years ago, I found myself TInkin about Journalism school.” And then, “Have you ever been told TAT you’re too old for sometIN?” My evaluator reaffirmed the series of G and H drops. “Tinkin” instead of “thinking.”
She was right. Her suggestion? And my suggestion? Slow down. Practice the “ING” sound. Listen for it. Be aware. Finish every word. Professional speakers and coaches have this advantage. You learn how to use words in a safe, supportive environment through constructive and effective feedback, and as you gain confidence, you take on more speeches, and you drop less.
Imagine a speech of five to seven minutes; you drop every “G” in your content. Imagine an address of 10 to 12 minutes. What about a keynote speech? Below is an example of a 2020 speech I presented to a toastmaster district competition. Had I dropped the “Gs” 13 times, I am sure the judges would have placed me last. If you read the speech as I lay it out below, focus on dropping the “G” in each word. Then, reread it and concentrate on completing the word. See the difference?
Dropping letters is sometimes referred to as upspeak, vocal fry, and elision of first hard consonants. “Imporant” is the most often “T” drop. More people adopt dropping the “T” by eliminating the first hard consonants. For example, “dealy,” not “deadly, “ etc. “Pay-on” instead of “PayTon.” To avoid this drop, the tongue rests loosely in your mouth, then darts forward and gently trapped between your teeth.
I tink I saw a puddy cat
H-dropping causes words like harm, heat, home and behind to be pronounced arm, eat, ome and be-ind. Cases of H-dropping occur in the weak forms of words like he, him, her, his, had, and have. The “H” has no stress and in the word “have” is often dropped, y pronounced “əv” in phrases like should have, would have, and could have, transforming into “should’ve,” “would’ve” and “could’ve.” Because “əv” is the weak form of the word, these words are often misspelt as should of, would of, and could of.
To avoid this drop, the tongue rests loosely in your mouth, then darts more forward than when trying to save the “T” drop and is trapped more aggressively between your teeth.
Roasted lamb or toast with jam?
Enunciation refers to how clearly and distinctly a particular individual forms the sounds that make up a word. When we do not enunciate correctly, it can be that we are blending words improperly, such as “going to” becomes “gonna” or “We want to” becomes “wanna.” Blending is how we speak to each other in conversations, “Hey, Richard, ya wanna go fly a kite? Don’t ya? I’m gonna be there in ten minutes.” As you can see, “you” is now “ya.”
We closely related pronunciation and enunciation, but these terms often get confused. We connect pronunciation, focusing on which syllables should be emphasized and how certain letters (or combinations of letters) should sound when spoken. Enunciation is from the Latin word enunciation, meaning “declaration.” Enunciation is the act of pronouncing words. Make sure your enunciation is clear. For example, when ordering in a restaurant, the server brings you roasted lamb when you want toast with jam.
“I didn’t order this?”
“Yes, you did,” replies the nervous server. You think about it, and…you didn’t say it right, or you didn’t enunciate the words.
“I didn’t TINK I ordered toast and jam? I must be LOSIN my mind.”
Think before speaking
We think as we speak, as opposed to thinking before we speak. Anxiety, nervousness, and stage fright, most times, create fast speaking, even “getting it over with” stress. The cost? Clarity and diction, mumbling or jumbling speeches.
If English is your second language, you might speak English at the rate of your birth language, resulting in fast English. Here’s what happens when you talk too fast and don’t enunciate during a speech.
- You might experience a higher vocal pitch with less strength and power
- Lower clarity and articulation
- More “umm…s” and “ahh…s.”
- Reduced comprehension from the audience
- Reduced communication impact on the listener
- Essential points in the message may be de-emphasized.
- You will seem less poised, less grounded, and lacking seriousness.
- The audience may perceive you as having lower credibility.
How can you slow your speaking rate?
First, practice speaking and monitor your speaking rate. Are you rushing out the front door? Are you a blender of words? Did you pick up your “Gs” “Hs” and “Ts?” Pause. Slow down. Say to yourself, “I’m speaking too fast. Slow down. Walk to the front door.” Second, let people in your life tell you, “You are speaking too fast for me.” Sometimes, you might not need to ask. They will respond with, “What did you say?” or “Say that again?” This is a sure sign that you are talking too fast. Other signs? They forget what you said because you babbled. They are already walking away.
About Richard Tardif
An award-winning journalist, a bestselling author and editor, a proven writing and speaking coach, and a member of Pointe-Claire Toastmasters. He has a tangible and sympathetic heart to share with readers, wordsmiths, and other professional communicators.
