weak speech

USAGE SUMMARY

'weak speech' is not a correct phrase in written English.
It could refer to something physical, like a weak vocal tone, or to a lack of conviction in someone's words, but it does not make sense in written text. If you wanted to describe someone's words in a written form, you might say something like: "The applicant's response was hesitant and lacking conviction".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Back then (in the wake of the tax kerfuffle, and the weak speech rolling out the bank plan), Geithner's standing did look shaky, which, according to Yves's logic, might have made the Times more willing to do a major piece attacking him.

The New Yorker

Especially weak speech tails are difficult to detect given this limited amount of information.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Conversely, in case of a weak speech component in the current frame, the smoothing gives more weight to the previous frame.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In frequency bins characterized by weak speech components, the gain function of STSA estimators often approaches very small, near zero values, implying too much attenuation on the speech signal.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Weak, his speech slurred, the pope grimly noted the global triumph of unfettered American-style capitalism.

The New York Times

As could be expected on the basis of the physical complexity of the carrier sounds, SSFs were weaker to music than to tones and the weakest to speech stimuli.

Ear and Hearing

As a medium, writing is a million times weaker than speech.

The New Yorker

SSFs were the strongest to tones and the weakest to speech stimuli; the amplitudes increased with increasing modulation depth for all stimuli.

Ear and Hearing

Theoretically, it has a weak effect on speech intelligibility when filtering out the low frequency parts of speech [16] which are easy to be distorted by noises.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Esther's hands have stiffened into claws, and she uses a device to amplify her weak and garbled speech.

The New York Times

He appeared weak during his speech, but rallied to complete it and waded into the crowd to greet widows and orphans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing speech, consider specifying the aspect that is weak, such as "weak arguments" or "weak delivery", to provide more clarity.

Common error

Instead of simply stating that the speech is "weak", identify why it's weak. Is it poorly structured, unconvincing, or delivered without confidence?

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak speech" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. While Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage, it is considered not the most correct phrase and it often refers to speech that lacks impact, clarity, or strength.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weak speech" is used to describe ineffective or deficient spoken language. While understandable, Ludwig AI marks it as not the most precise term. The examples provided by Ludwig indicate its use across News & Media and Science contexts. For clarity, specifying the aspect of speech that is weak (e.g. "weak arguments" or "hesitant delivery") is advisable. Related phrases include "feeble articulation" and "unpersuasive discourse". Overall, while not strictly incorrect, "weak speech" benefits from more specific and descriptive alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeble articulation

Focuses on the physical act of speaking, specifically the lack of strength or clarity in pronunciation.

hesitant delivery

Emphasizes the lack of confidence and smoothness in the presentation of speech.

lacking conviction in speech

Highlights the speaker's lack of belief or certainty in their own words.

poorly delivered speech

Indicates a general lack of quality in the presentation of the speech.

unpersuasive discourse

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of the speech to convince or influence the audience.

incoherent utterances

Suggests a lack of logical connection and clarity in the spoken words.

slurred speech

Describes speech that is unclear and difficult to understand, often due to physical or medical reasons.

tenuous remarks

Emphasizes the fragility and lack of substance in the spoken statements.

underdeveloped arguments

Focuses on the lack of depth and elaboration in the points made during the speech.

weak verbal communication

Broader term referring to a lack of effectiveness or clarity in spoken communication.

FAQs

What does "weak speech" mean?

The term "weak speech" generally refers to speech that lacks impact, clarity, or strength. It can describe various aspects, such as the content, delivery, or conviction behind the spoken words.

What are some alternative ways to describe ineffective speech?

Instead of "weak speech", you can use phrases like "feeble articulation", "hesitant delivery", or "unpersuasive discourse", depending on the specific issue.

Is it grammatically correct to say "weak speech"?

While the phrase is understandable, Ludwig AI suggests that "weak speech" is not the most natural or precise way to express the intended meaning. Consider using more descriptive alternatives.

How can I improve the quality of someone's "weak speech"?

Focus on improving the clarity of their message, strengthening their arguments, and enhancing their delivery skills. Providing specific feedback can help them address the weaknesses in their speech.