Car Uros

Motivational speakers cannot avoid being cheesy unless they have a clear idea of what the word means. Some suggest that its meaning is peculiarly American and others think it belongs to computer jargon. The fact that it is listed in a 1982 dictionary indicates that it is more likely to have come from the habit of photographers to say ‘cheese’ when about to take a snap shot. On the command subjects were expected to produce artificial grins.

Cheese is a tasty morsel, yet the expression derived from it is not complimentary. In the inimitable way of words it suggests something that may be tasty but somehow offensive. The fact that the expression has been used for more than two decades may indicate that people have become more critical in recent times. They may be more adept at sniffing out the sort of insincerity that allowed speakers in previous eras to lead their audiences into wars and destruction.

The fact that this expression has been growing in use for two decades might be a warning sign for public speakers. Although a speech may seem like a one way communicative act, it is not. Am audience may be silent but attentive and judgmental. Their mental activity may be be focused on judging the sincerity and sense of what they hear and process internally.

The word cheesy may itself have become something of a cliche. It has been heard often before and sounds rather clever. It fits easily into the speech patterns of people who do not have to think too closely about what they mean when they use it. The fact that it is derogatory in some general sense is sufficient for many.

The use of cliche is such a prominent feature of language use that one may be forgiven for thinking that some politicians would be dumb if they could not use phrases that they have heard before. Language is very much like music and some people like to use cliches as others like to hum familiar tunes. Some politicians may in fact have very little to say that is original, so it is convenient for them to utter phrases that sound vaguely meaningful.

Although cliches do slip unobtrusively into the speech of most people it is possible for a speaker to guard against too many of them by careful preparation. This does not imply learning a speech by rote. Instead a speaker can think in terms of metaphor, of analogies and symbols. These are the fundamentals of original thought. Even ordinary thoughts can seem exciting and fresh when dressed in the fine clothes of metaphor and symbolism.

If cheesy implies insincerity or banality, this may be countered by planning a speech around the genuine needs of the audience. If they are threatened by unemployment and probably insecure a speaker may inspire hope and motivate certain courses of action by using words that inspire security. This might touch on the real needs experienced by members of the audience.

In classical times rhetoric was included as a compulsory subject in school curricula. This was because it is such a potent skill. A motivational speaker like Adolf Hitler or Winston Churchill stood on opposite sides of a chasm, but motivated their countrymen to outrageous courses of action. It is possible that mass communication systems have taught audiences to be more critical and alert to insincerity, banality and pretense. That may put pressure on charlatans but will be good for humanity.

Picking your speaker can be a delicate task if you don’t know who to choose. Go to Speakers Associates for your perfect motivational speaker that won’t give a cheesy talk