The language of confidence, by Ruth Oji
When people think about commanding presence in professional or academic life, their minds often turn to dramatic images. They picture a charismatic orator pacing across a stage, an assertive executive dominating a boardroom table, or an aggressive negotiator staring down their counterparts. Popular culture frequently tells us that confidence is loud, expansive, and uncompromising. Yet […]
Introductions, conclusions, and titles
By Ruth Oji HAVE you ever found yourself wondering: “How shall I start?” How often have you finished writing something only to discover that your work has no real conclusion? What do you do when you can’t think of a title for something you have written? Kindly read on to see suggestions that can help […]
Discourse markers III
By Ruth Oji WELCOME to the last part of the series on discourse markers. This week, we will consider discourse markers – words that show the connection between what a speaker is saying and what has already been said or what is going to be said, and words that help to make clear the structure […]
Discourse markers II
By Ruth Oji IN addition to the discourse markers discussed last week, there are several more to be pointed out this week. As earlier highlighted, discourse markers are words and expressions used to show how discourse is connected. They can show the connection between what a speaker is saying and what has already been said, […]
Discourse markers
By Ruth Oji MOST conversations in speaking or writing contexts are usually prefaced with discourse markers. Why is this fitting, and why are discourse markers inevitable in communication? This article discusses this and shares examples of several discourse markers you can use in your speaking or writing engagements. The list won’t be exhaustive because there […]
Understanding the writing activity
By Ruth Oji EVERY writer approaches writing differently. You may begin a writing assignment by sitting outside under a tree and daydreaming, while your best friend may find it impossible to concentrate on writing unless she is sitting at her desk with her computer in front of her. No matter how differently writers work, however, […]
