Ellen G. White on the Defect of Rapid Speaking

It is certainly vital for ministers and workers to cultivate a deliberate and clear speaking style, as rapid delivery significantly hinders the effectiveness of the sacred messageYI September 16, 1897, par. 5.

...ate emphasis. And this is the Pattern set before every one who would become a teacher of the truth. Rapid utterance is a defect that every speaker should make decided efforts to overcome. There is altogether too much jingling of words. They sound upon the ear, but are spoken in so hurried a manner that the hearers cannot get the sen...— YI September 16, 1897, par. 5 (1852)

Educate all to speak slowly. Do not allow any hurried reading or rapid delivery. Teach the students to inhale the God-given, vital air, and then in the exhalation clearly express ...— 2MR 224.5 (1987)

...ness. There are others who talk so low that their words can scarcely be heard. Another laborer will speak hurriedly, rushing his words one upon another. Half that he says is lost, for the hearer cannot take in the precious words coming from his lips. These are defects which sho...— 12LtMs, Ms 4, 1897, par. 2

...rant and learned, could catch the full meaning of His words. This would have been impossible had He spoken in a hurried way, and rushed sentence upon sentence without a pause. The people were very attentive to Him, and it was said of Him that He spoke not as the scribes and...— VSS 72.1 (1988)

...control of reason. When you strain the organs of speech, the modulations of the voice are lost. The tendency to rapid speaking should be decidedly overcome. God claims of the human instrumentality all the service that man can give. All the talents entrust...— Ev 668.2 (1946)

The messages of truth must be kept entirely free from cheap and common words of human devising, and ministers are the mouthpiece of God who must eradicate all such expressions from their speech21LtMs, Lt 356, 1906, par. 12. The man who accepts the high position of being a mouthpiece for God should consider it highly essential to present the truth with all the intelligence and grace possible, ensuring that the truth loses nothing in his presentation to the people1SAT 298.3+1.

The practice of speaking rapidly and hurrying one word after another is a common mistake that causes the effect of what is said to be lostPM 296.5. Some preachers are known for their rapid talking, and others for a thick and indistinct utterance, defects which cause the heavenly messengers in the audience to be ashamedVSS 271.2+1.

When a laborer speaks hurriedly, rushing his words one upon another, half of what he is saying is lost because the hearer cannot fully take in the precious words coming from his lipsVSS 259.2+1. Rapid utterance is, therefore, a defect that every speaker should make decided efforts to overcomeYI September 16, 1897, par. 5. There is altogether too much jingling of words in some discourses, where the words sound upon the ear but are spoken so hurriedly that the listeners cannot comprehend the sense of one word before another follows, and the full meaning is ultimately lostYI September 16, 1897, par. 5.

To ensure the delivery is correct in both reading and speaking, trainers should make sure students are educated to speak slowly, and should not allow any hurried reading or rapid delivery2MR 224.5+1. We are told that Christ, our supreme Pattern, spoke slowly and impressively, emphasizing the words to which He wished His hearers to give special heedVSS 72.1. He never spoke in a hurried way, rushing sentence upon sentence without a pause, allowing old and young, ignorant and learned, to catch the full meaning of His messageVSS 72.1. The habit of speaking slowly, earnestly, and solemnly, with the full assurance given by the Word of God, must be acquired so that the hearer receives the benefit of every sentence and every word makes its distinct impression upon the mind12LtMs, Ms 4, 1897, par. 2.

The tendency to rapid speaking should be decidedly overcome, as the careless and improvident use of any God-given powers lessens the worker's efficiencyEv 668.2. We must remember that if we fail to cultivate the habit of using the voice correctly, our work will be a failure, for knowledge is of little value unless we can clothe our ideas in appropriate and impressive languageCT 217.1. The ability to speak plainly and distinctly, in full, round tones, is invaluable in any line of work and is indispensable for ministers and evangelistsVSS 45.3.