Signpost language: the road to clearer presentations

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Have you ever been at the receiving end of presentations where the speaker hems and haws, erms and uhs? Nothing underlines uneasiness and hesitation more than these awkward “fillers”, these bumpy transitions from point to point or slide to slide.

Which is why, today, we thought we’d share a resource from those in the business of making language work.

If you’re wondering what “signpost language” is, it’s really exactly what it suggests – language that helps your audience know what lies ahead, and keeps them from feeling lost in unknown terrain!

To quote from the site:

‘Signpost language’ is the words and phrases that people use to tell the listener what has just happened, and what is going to happen next. In other words, signpost language guides the listener through the presentation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/unit3presentations/expert.shtml

We hope you enjoy reading through the article, which offers a simple, yet invaluable, listing of suggestions on how you can create natural, smooth, and valid bridges between one section of your presentation and another.

Better still, we hope you enjoy putting them into practice!