Simple Words Work
January 21st, 2007
Presentation Zen: Words matter, but the message is King
The results are not particularly surprising, though frankly they are a bit meaningless. It’s fun to look at the results (man, Gates sure did say "Windows" and "Vista" a lot, and Job sure said "iPhone" and "Phone" often…hardly surprising since that was the focus of the keynote). If you look at the average words per sentence, lexical density, number of words with three or more syllables, etc. then it appears Steve Jobs had a much simpler talk. So Jobs’ popular presentation was so interesting, memorable, enjoyable, etc. because the language he used was relatively simple? Is there a correlation between simple, easy-to-understand language and impact on an audience? Most communication experts say to keep the language as simple as possible (but not too simple). Here are a few quotes on simplicity with regards to writing or speaking (go here for more):
"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do." — Thomas Jefferson
"The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words." — Hippocrates
"The trouble with so many of us is that we underestimate the power of simplicity." — Robert Stuberg"Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind." — Cicero
"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius-and a lot of courage-to move in the opposite direction." — Albert Einstein
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