How To Eliminate Negative Verbiage

Eliminate negative verbiage. The reason it is so hard to have a simple conversation in many languages, not just English, is that many native speakers use negative verbiage when they mean 'not.' Verbiage is one of the oldest forms of communication, dating back to the earliest known man. It has survived from the very beginning of the word. It is perfectly natural for people to use negative words, but we must make an effort to avoid them, if we are to communicate properly.


Why do some speakers persist in using such language and why is this so difficult to recognize? It may be because it is so easy to slip into the language unconsciously. For example, when you are having a discussion with an acquaintance from a different country, there is absolutely no need for you to refer to him or her as "master" or "student." You would never say such a thing in your home country. The familiarity of the two cultures would make it impossible to slip in such a language.

There are many ways to correct this problem. One solution is simply to stop you. Would you say something like "If I was a master, I would solve my problem myself?" If you replied yes, then you are being unfair to yourself. The problem is that negative verbiage becomes a regular part of your conversations, whether you realize it or not. Therefore, you have to learn to recognize it when it occurs and make the choice to change the way you are talking.

The next step is to look carefully at the environment where you often encounter negative verbiage. Are the speakers using it unnecessarily? There is usually a reason for the negative usage and it isn't likely that what they are saying is accidental. For example, in business meetings where someone is not doing well, they will often use negative words to describe their lack of progress.

An even more common example would be in political debates. Negative election campaign statements from either side would be expected and in fact often come straight from the podium. However, there may be candidates who deliberately deliver their most negative speeches in an effort to sway the election in their favor. It is important to distinguish between candidates who are truly negative and those who are using this as a campaign strategy. A successful politician knows how to use negative verbiage to get his or her point across, while a negative speaker would be better advised to stick to honest opinion.

There are even times when people are stuck for words and find it difficult to communicate their thoughts and opinions directly. In these situations it is quite normal for them to resort to negative speech to try and get their message across. While the technique may work for a moment, the speaker would lose credibility very quickly if he or she continues to use this approach. There is a difference between making constructive comments and repeating negativity.

For those who are undecided about the exact effect that negative speech can have on a conversation, it would be helpful to think about the effect that a casual tone of voice can have on someone. People tend to listen to speakers who speak with a relaxed tone of voice, and they tend to pick up on the conversational language patterns of speakers. When a person speaks with an overly serious or even sneering tone, it immediately changes the way in which they are thinking. Instead of thinking positive thoughts, the individual becomes preoccupied with negative thoughts and feels negatively about the situation. Therefore, a casual tone of voice, coupled with neutral language, can be used to effectively neutralize negative speech.


This does not mean that in order to eliminate negative speech, one should never speak at all. In fact, this would be a gross violation of the First Amendment, as well as basic human rights. However, by learning how to speak positively and with an unbiased tone, it is possible to make the distinction between friend and foe clear. With so much riding on the line when it comes to diplomacy, it only makes sense to learn how to eliminate negative verbiage in order to move forward instead of being constantly sidetracked by negative statements.