Exercise 5: People Listening

Take a couple of days and indulge in some people listening sessions. As you are doing your people listening try and identify different accents, different modes of speech, and different ways speech reveals the speaker.



♥ Make a list of at least ten different speech patterns that you hear.

1. running words together very fast

2. twittering laugh after each sentence

3. replaces th sounds with a d sound

4. very loud and commanding

5. stutter

6. interrupts and challenges the other person when there is a lie or evasiveness

7. uses word axe instead of ask

8. timid, soft

9. coughs to draw attention to what is being said.

10. effusive or effervesent



♥ Next make a list of ten difference actions you see people doing as they talk.



1. Hands are flying all about

2. bending over to assist the person in the wheelchair

3. step back, hands behind the back

4. hunched over and hands together while scanning the room and conversation before joining in

5. paces with toes pointed outward

6. cleans while talking on the phone

7. The mother figure is popping up every seven seconds because someone at the table wants something and she knows where it is.

8. Slaps legs and screams at them to work

9. scratches beard and down there regions around women

10. roll eyes



♥ Next to each one of the entries in the two lists make a few notes about the type of character who might use that identifying method of speaking or those specific actions as they talk.



1. running words together very fast: store clerk

2. twittering laugh after each sentence: any character that you identify as insipid

3. replaces th sounds with a d sound: day laborer, small Midwest town, possibly New Yorker

4. very loud and commanding: military

5. stutter: Shy person who has been beaten down in oral arguments

6. interrupts and challenges the other person when there is a lie or evasiveness: Bold, assertive, woman who had to raiser herself

7. uses word axe instead of ask: African American character

8. timid, soft: Child

9. coughs to draw attention to what is being said: Person who is considered the boss

10. effusive or effervescent: beautiful realtor



1. Hands are flying all about: someone who needs to be the center of attention and would not be able to speak if their hands were tied behind their back.

2. bending over to assist the person in the wheelchair: social worker or caregiver

3. step back, hands behind the back: Sales clerk

4. hunched over and hands together while scanning the room and conversation before joining in: arrogant know it all

5. paces with toes pointed outward: agitated and irritated

6. cleans while talking on the phone: Person who can’t sit still, possibly ADD

7. The mother figure is popping up every seven seconds because someone at the table wants something and she knows where it is: Mother

8. Slaps legs and screams at them to work: DAV

9. scratches beard and down there regions around women: arrogant man trying to prove himself in unfriendly territory.

10. roll eyes: Woman who has just heard a lie or exagerration