Talking For Success by Jonathan Clifton

Talking For Success by Jonathan Clifton

'At last, a book about how language works that is for everyone' - Stephanie Schnurr, Professor of Linguistics, Warwick University, England

Talking for Success by Jonathan Clifton is an engaging, research-grounded guide to becoming the kind of communicator people trust, follow, and remember. If you've ever walked away from a meeting wishing you'd sounded sharper, tried to persuade a client and felt momentum fade, or struggled to make small talk feel natural, this book turns good communication from a vague ambition into a set of learnable skills. Use it to sharpen interviews, sales calls, presentations, networking, conflict resolution, and leadership.

Clifton is a conversation analyst who has taught business communication at European universities for over 20 years, and he wrote this book to make the science of talk practical and accessible. His core message is refreshing: strong speaking isn't a mysterious gift of the gab - it's something you can learn by understanding the hidden codes running through conversation.

What makes Talking for Success stand out among communication skills and public speaking books is its method. Instead of invented dialogues or generic advice, Clifton shows you real-world language in action - transcribed, slowed down, and explained - so you can see exactly what makes messages land (and what makes them fail). The focus is spoken language - the everyday talk we rely on at work and in relationships, but rarely analyse. And because impact isn't only verbal, Clifton also examines paralinguistic cues (stress, laughter, tone, volume) and body language - gesture, gaze, touch - so you can deliver the same message with more power and precision.

Inside, you'll get 23 fascinating analyses of real-life talk, from high-profile conversations to everyday moments like sales pitches, small talk, and business meetings. You'll explore scenarios such as apologising, debating, negotiating, presenting, public speaking (when it goes right and when it goes wrong), team talk, and politeness -each chapter designed to stand alone so you can dip in wherever you need help most.

You'll see, for example, how persuasive sales language is built: strategic word choice, confident descriptions, and even the use of props and expert identity to nudge buyers toward a decision. Along the way, Clifton shows you how framing can shift meaning, why questions can control direction, and how credibility and goodwill can strengthen your position when the stakes are high.

Then comes the payoff: Part Two distills everything into The Secret Codes - 100 actionable ways to improve how you do things with words and play language games more effectively. Clifton pulls the codes together into strategies that help you speak more effectively in every area of life - for work, for love, for fun, and everything in between. Think of it as a communication toolkit for influence and persuasion, negotiation skills, leadership communication, and confident public speaking - without the fluff.

Ideal for managers, entrepreneurs, sales teams, HR, educators, and students who want confident, persuasive, authentic speaking that drives results fast.

"We have all been waiting for a book like thisWith a rare kind of clear analysis and a wide variety of real speech cases, Jonathan Clifton convincingly demonstrates what speakers are doing with language to achieve a certain effect. The reader will also find a substantial reference set of tools and strategies, well-explained and ready for use in the reader’s own practices. Essential, I think, for business and communication students, journalists, teachers and everyone interested in communicating effectively."

Katja Pelsmaekers, co-editor of ‘Displaying Competence in Organizations’ and former lecturer of Business Communication at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

"This book is a tour de force. Finally, a crystal-clear, razor-sharp and entertaining account of how the spoken word really works: in politics, law and the world of glamour, and in our everyday lives. Jonathan Clifton is one of a handful of linguists who manages to explain complex and critical scholarly findings without dumbing down."

Geert Jacobs, Professor of Linguistics, Ghent University, Belgium

"In this book, Jonathan Clifton takes up the challenge of explaining linguistics to non-linguists. From small talk to public speaking, from advertising to team talk, the author shows how language actually works, drawing on real-life examples. The book is refreshing and accessible to all, and will help us, readers, to develop our awareness of language so that we can adopt our strategies to become better communicators. I warmly recommend the book!"

Annelise Ly, Associate Professor of Professional and Intercultural Communication, Norwegian School of Economics, Norway.

"At last, a book about how language works that is for everyone! While based on rigorous academic scholarship, this book leaves the Ivory Tower behind and provides fascinating insights into the complexities of language without being technical or boring! Its accessible and engaging writing style, together with informative and entertaining excerpts from celebrity interviews, political speeches, small talk while refuelling a plane, and police negotiations with a terrorist, make this book a joy to read. Not only does it illustrate how to master the code of talking effectively, but readers will also be equipped with 100 concrete strategies of how to improve their own language to talk for success."

Stephanie Schnurr, Professor of Linguistics, Warwick University, England.

"This book is a must have! It deals with language, how it is used, and how to use it better. Jonathan Clifton adopts a novel format, beginning with the in-depth but to-the-point analysis of 24 contemporary instances of spoken language. I particularly like the way these examples cover such a range of contexts and purposes. These lead on to “100 strategies” which cleverly apply theory in order to help readers improve their communication skills. The author draws on his expertise as a conversational analyst, and his up-beat prose also guarantees a very enjoyable read. A precious resource for teachers, but, first and foremost, a book for everyone."

Fiona Rossette-Crake, Professor of English Linguistics, Université Paris Nanterre, France

"Drawing from years of research and university teaching, Jonathan Clifton masterfully guides the reader through the secret codes of conversation - without the academic jargon. Through easy-to-follow examples taken from contemporary scenarios, this book encourages you to notice the subtlest of cues in language, and it equips you with concrete communication strategies, one hundred of them to be specific. From celebrity interviews to police negotiations, from adverts to everyday chatter - if you ever wondered how people really communicate and how they achieve their goals, you won't be able to put this book down!"

Erika Darics, language consultant and Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

"Jonathan Clifton is an outstanding scholar, as his many academic publications attest. Yet, what makes him truly stand out from the ‘academic crowd’ is his ability to translate complex analyses into plain language. Combine this with an excellent nose for captivating cases, and you have a recipe for success, as this book shows! Because seriously, who wouldn’t want to know how to crack the language codes as used by the likes of Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Meghan and Harry?!"

Dorien Van De Mieroop, Professor of Linguistics, Leuven University, Belgium.



"This wise book resonates with academics and professionals by showing how communication shapes reality. “TALKING FOR SUCCESS: The Secret Codes of Conversation and How to Master Them” is a one-of-a-kind guide to communication strategy that is both specific and actionable. These very valuable insights are also rooted in strong research but shared in an engaging and conversational tone. To boot, the candid, and sometimes humorous delivery, is a fun read. I highly recommend it!"

Jacqueline Mayfield, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Management, Texas A & M International University. Co-Editor, the International Journal of Business Communication

Dr Jonathan Clifton is a conversation analyst. He is an associate professor at the Université Polytechnic Hauts-de-France, Valenciennes, France and an associate editor of the International Journal of Business Communication.

For more than 20 years, he has taught business communication at various European universities. He is the author of over 50 academic articles on communication, edited numerous collections, and has co-authored two books. He has a doctorate in applied linguistics. This is his first work for a popular market, in which he explains the science of language.

 

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9781914487286
ISBN 10	1914487281
Titel	Talking For Success
Autor	Jonathan Clifton
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Bindungsart	Paperback
Verlag	Canbury Press
Erscheinungsjahr	2024-03-28
Seitenanzahl	308
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.