Challenge Yourself

[Anarchemitis]

I came up with an idea for myself to make me more self-concious of how I speak that would affect my speaking so little, I think it to be an extremly good idea better that sliced bread:
When speaking, remove all conjunctions and avoid contractions. ("or" exempt)

You can not say things like "Isn't, I'm, don't or we'll". Say them as "Is not, I am, Do not & We will".
It is a very good excecise, although at the moment I find it quite difficult. I challenge you to try it.

 

[Nugoo]

The problem with doing that, is that it makes you sound like a pretentious ass.

I agree, though, it is challenging and enjoyable.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Unless you slur it ever so slightly, making it almost indistingishable from the original conjunction, and you get the satisfaction of knowing you can do it, but no one can tell.

 

[Larenxis]

I can't do that! Timing is essential, and contractions help bring rhythm to a sentence.

 

[Razzle Bathbone]

Another interesting challenge: avoid any use of the verb "to be".

So instead of saying Instead "I am hungry", say "I feel hungry."
Instead of "I'll be out in a minute", "I'll come out in a minute."
Instead of "That's cool", "That looks/sounds cool."

Supposedly, this exercise leads you to greater self-awareness because it forces you to think in terms of people's actions and choices rather than their (supposedly) innate nature. You begin to see things not in terms of what they "are" but in terms of what they "do".

 

[Nugoo]

I can barely reply to that post without using "to be".

 

[General Mostly Electrified Steel]

Another interesting challenge: avoid any use of the verb "to be".

So instead of saying Instead "I am hungry", say "I feel hungry."
Instead of "I'll be out in a minute", "I'll come out in a minute."
Instead of "That's cool", "That looks/sounds cool."

Supposedly, this exercise leads you to greater self-awareness because it forces you to think in terms of people's actions and choices rather than their (supposedly) innate nature. You begin to see things not in terms of what they "are" but in terms of what they "do".

The "dialect" you speak of calls itself "E-prime".

However, there exists a far less idiotically broad version, calling itself "E-prime-prime" which allows certain constructions with "to be". Because, really, eliminating passive sentences is silly.