| Every word you speak or write is used by others to | | | | writing. We are likewise expected to comprehend the |
| assess your intelligence, education, character and | | | | words of others in the media and in our personal and |
| social status. Having a well-developed vocabulary, | | | | professional lives. Without a well-developed |
| therefore, is vital to your being seen a winner in the | | | | vocabulary, we are doomed to tongue-tied, |
| eyes of the world. | | | | pucker-browed failure. |
| A powerful vocabulary will secure your success in | | | | No wonder so many people freeze with fear when |
| your educational, professional, personal and social life. It | | | | asked to make a speech or engage in public debate. |
| will maximise your powers of persuasion, transform | | | | No wonder they miss out on promotion or end up in |
| your negotiating skills, and build your self-confidence. It | | | | dead end jobs. |
| will facilitate your understanding of the most erudite | | | | Research has shown, unsurprisingly, that the people |
| books, magazines and newspapers. It will energize | | | | with the greatest command of words command the |
| your thinking and transform your powers of | | | | top salaries in most companies. |
| expression, enabling you to articulate your most | | | | Johnson O'Connor, founder of the Human Engineering |
| complex thoughts and ideas in speech and in writing. | | | | Laboratory, tested the vocabulary of executive and |
| In the introduction to his famous 'Roget's Thesaurus', Dr | | | | supervisory personnel in 39 large manufacturing |
| Peter Mark Roget wrote: "Every workman in the | | | | companies. Presidents and Vice Presidents averaged |
| exercise of his art should be provided with the proper | | | | 236 out of 272; Managers 168; Superintendents 140; |
| implements. For the fabrication of complicated and | | | | Foremen 114; and Floor Bosses 86." |
| curious pieces of mechanism, the artisan requires a | | | | He concluded: "An extensive knowledge of the exact |
| corresponding assortment of various tools and | | | | meanings of English words accompanies outstanding |
| instruments. For the perfect delineation of the beauties | | | | success in this country more often than any other |
| of nature, the painter should have within reach of his | | | | single characteristic we have been able to isolate and |
| pencil every variety and combination of hues and | | | | measure." |
| tints.Now, the writer as well as the orator employs for | | | | The acquisition of a well rounded vocabulary usually |
| the accomplishment of his purposes the instrumentality | | | | takes years of attentive reading, concentrated listening, |
| of words; it is in words that he clothes his thoughts; it is | | | | and patient recording of new words used in their |
| by means of words that he depicts his feelings. It is | | | | proper context. |
| therefore essential to his success that he be provided | | | | But, don't despair. The good news is that, if you follow |
| with a copious vocabulary." | | | | a structured programme of vocabulary expansion, you |
| We are all required daily to express our thoughts and | | | | can develop a dynamic vocabulary in as little as 30 |
| feelings with clarity and precision in speech and in | | | | days. |