You know who are geniuses at using their voices and words effectively? Sportscasters. Not the TV ones, the radio ones.
Think about it. Have you ever listened to a game that’s broadcast on the radio? Those people have a really hard job—they have to watch what’s going on, translate it instantly into words, say what’s happening clearly and with the correct attribution of player and team, and say it all before the next thing happens that they need to tell us about. In addition, they have to have other stuff that’s relevant to the game ready to talk about in case there’s a lull in the action—but they have to be ready to drop that and get right back into the game if something happens.
What I love the most about what they do is this. There is not a wasted word. Every adjective and verb is chosen well to do the most work. There’s no time to ramp up, find what you want to say, work it around…they are bringing the listener to the game with the words they say, and the pace and cadence of their voices. The athletes don’t run, they careen down they court. They don’t make a shot, they drain it. The coach on the sideline isn’t mad, he looks like someone took his brownies.
How is your vocabulary working for you? Where can you be more specific, more vibrant, paint a clearer picture, get to the point sooner?
