ENGL 4 PUBLIC SPEAKING

Speech Delivery A. Using the Body

I. Audience members pay attention to the speakers body language during a speech. A. Body language includes facial expressions, eye behavior, gestures, and general body movement. B. The speakers facial and eye behaviors convey emotion; these behaviors help listeners determine how the speaker feels about the speech and the audience. 1. Few behaviors are as effective at building rapport with an audience as smiling. a. A smile is a sign of mutual welcome, comfort, interest, and goodwill. b. Smiling can help the speaker relax. C. Eye contact lets listeners know that they are recognized. 1. Poor eye contact is alienating; good eye contact maintains the quality of directness in the delivery. 2. Eye contact indicates acknowledgment and respect, and signals that the speaker sees the audience members as unique individuals. 3. Speakers should scan the audience or move their gaze from one listener to another, pausing to make eye contact. 4. Choosing three members of the audience from various sections of the room as anchors helps the speaker scan effectively. D. Gestures and body movements help clarify the meaning of the speakers words. 1. Speakers should use their hands and arms to gesture, filling in gaps. E. Dress and objects influence the audiences perceptions of the speaker. 1. The speakers clothing is the first thing that listeners notice. 2. Speakers should consider the audiences expectations and the nature of the speech occasion when choosing what to wear. 3. The speaker should avoid holding objects that are unnecessary, because they might distract the audience. II. Practicing the delivery A. Practice is essential to effective delivery. 1. The purpose of the speech is to get the message across. B. There are several tips for practicing your speech: 1. Plan ahead and practice often. 2. Record or videotape your speech. 3. Be prepared to revise your speaking notes. 4. Practice under realistic conditions. 5. Time your speech. KEY TERMS scanning a technique for creating eye contact in large audiences; the speaker moves his or her gaze across an audience from one listener to another and from one section to another, pausing to gaze briefly at each individual. talking head a speaker who remains static, standing stiffly behind a podium, and so resembles a televised shot of a speakers head and shoulders

B. Controlling the Voice

I. Volume A. Volume is the relative loudness of a speakers voice. 1. Typically, the proper volume is slightly louder than normal conversation, but it depends on the size of the room, the number of people in the audience, the availability of a microphone, and background noise. II. Pitch A. Pitch describes the range of sound from high to low (or vice versa). 1. Pitch conveys your mood, reveals your level of enthusiasm, and expresses your concern for the audience. 2. Speakers should vary their pitch to avoid a monotonous delivery. III. Rate A. Speaking rate is the pace at which you convey speech. It is the most effective way to hold an audiences attention. 1. Speakers should strive to vary the rate of speech throughout their presentations. 2. The typical public speech occurs at a rate slightly below 120 words per minute, but there is no specific standard for the ideal, or most effective, rate.

3. Being alert to your audiences reactions is the best way to determine whether you are speaking too rapidly or too slowly.

IV. Pause A. A pause can be used strategically within a speech to enhance meaning. It provides a type of punctuation and can be used to emphasize a point, draw attention to a key thought, or give listeners a moment to contemplate a point. V. Vocal variety A. Vocal variety, the use of multiple vocal cues, is important to achieving a successful delivery. 1. One key to achieving effective vocal variety is enthusiasm. 2. Be careful not to let enthusiasm overwhelm your ability to control vocal behavior. VI. Pronunciation and articulation A. Speakers should pay special attention to pronunciation and articulation. The correct formation of words and the clarity and forcefulness of words so that they are individually audible and discernible are particularly important to holding the audiences attention. 1. A very common pattern of poor articulation is mumbling. a. Sometimes the problem is lazy speech. 2. Articulation problems can be overcome by unlearning the problem behavior. VII. Using dialect (language variation) A. A dialect is a distinctive pattern of speech associated with a particular region or social group. 1. When speaking publicly, use general American English, which is most likely to be understood by audience members. Speakers using general American English are more likely to be perceived as competent. 2. Code-switching, using dialect selectively in a speech, can help achieve a variety of positive rhetorical effects, provided the meaning is clear. 3. Avoid slang, that is, informal, short-lived language. KEY TERMS volume the relative loudness of a speakers voice while giving a speech. lavalier microphone a microphone that attaches to a lapel or collar. handheld or fixed microphone a microphone attached to a source of electrical power by a cord. pitch the range of sounds from high to low determined by the number of vibrations per unit of time; the more vibrations per unit (also called frequency), the higher the pitch, and vice versa. speaking rate the pace at which a speech is conducted. The typical public speech occurs at a rate slightly below 120 words per minute. vocal fillers unnecessary and undesirable sounds or words used by a speaker to cover pauses in a speech or conversation. Examples include uh,hmm, you know,I mean, and its like. pauses strategic elements of a speech used to enhance meaning by providing a type of punctuation, emphasizing a point, drawing attention to a key thought, or just allowing listeners a moment to contemplate what is being said. vocal variety the variation of volume, pitch, rate, and pauses to create an effective delivery. pronunciation the correct formation of word sounds. articulation the clarity or forcefulness with which sounds are made, regardless of whether they are pronounced correctly. mumbling slurring words together at low volume and pitch so they are barely audible. lazy speech a poor speech habit in which the speaker fails to properly articulate words. dialect a distinctive way of speaking associated with a particular region or social group.

C. Using Language
I. Writing for the ear A. Choosing the right words is critical to connecting with your audience. 1. Style is the specific word choice. 2. Rhetorical devices are techniques of language used by the speaker. B. Successful speakers write for the ear to make their message clear to the audience. 1. Be straightforward. Use easy-to-follow syntax, frequent transitions, and a clear organizational pattern. 2. Strive for simplicity in word choice. a. Avoid jargon, the specialized language of an activity or group; terms should be translated for the layperson. 3. Be concise. Strive to get your point across effectively, using as few words as possible. 4. Use repetition of key words and phrases to create a distinct rhythm that implants important ideas in listeners minds. 5. Use personal pronouns such as we, I, and you to draw your audience into your message.

II. Choosing language that encourages shared meaning A. Always avoid biased language that relies on unfounded assumptions, negative descriptions, or stereotypes based on religion, race, age, class, gender, disability, or ethnicity. 1. Biased language includes any terminology that is sexist, ageist, or homophobic. 2. Speakers should avoid the use of sexist pronouns when referring to both men and women. 3. Be culturally sensitive by avoiding or offering explanations when using colloquial expressions or idioms. B. Use concrete wordswords that are specific, tangible, and definite. Abstract languagegeneral, nonspecific wordsshould be avoided. C. Vivid imagery enhances meaning by making ideas concrete and by evoking feelings and associations. 1. You can evoke vivid imagery by using words that are colorful and concrete. Countless adverbs and adjectives are available to make language colorful and concrete. 2. You can evoke imagery by appealing to the senses, creating images that awaken the sense of smell, taste, sight, hearing, or touch. 3. You can evoke vivid imagery by using figures of speechforms of expression that create striking comparisons to help the listener visualize, identify with, and understand the speakers ideas. a. A simile explicitly compares one thing to another, using like or as. b. A metaphor also compares two things but does so by describing one thing as actually being the other. c. An analogy is an extended metaphor or simile that compares an unfamiliar concept or process to a more familiar one to help the listener understand the unfamiliar one. III. Choosing language to build credibility A. Speakers must be correct in usage and truthful in expression. 1. Steer clear of slander and avoid malapropism, the inadvertent use of a word or phrase in place of one that sounds like it. 2. As a rule, speakers should strive to uphold the conventional rules of grammar and usage associated with Standard English. a. The more diverse the audience, and the more formal the occasion, the closer you will want to stay within these boundaries. b. When the audience is more homogeneous, it may be appropriate to mix casual language, regional dialects, or even slang into your speech. B. Language that expresses confidence enhances credibility. This is best accomplished by using the active voice and personal pronouns. 1. Speaking in the active rather than passive voice makes statements clear and assertive instead of indirect and weak. IV. Choosing language that creates a lasting impression A. Repetition involves repeating key words or phrases. This creates a distinct rhythm that implants important ideas in listeners minds. 1. Repetition is often used to create a thematic focus. a. Repeating a key word, phrase, or sentence throughout the speech stimulates and captures attention and brings the speaker closer to listeners. b. Anaphora is a type of repetition in which the speaker repeats a word or a phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. B. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in two or more neighboring syllables. It lends speech a poetic, musical rhythm that can create a lasting impression. C. Parallelism refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, and sentences in similar form. It helps the speaker emphasize important ideas and can create a sense of steady or building rhythm. 1. Orally numbering points is one use of parallel language. 2. Parallelism within individual sentences, in the form of pairs and triads, creates a powerful effect. a. Pairs take two ideas, phrases, or words to create a powerful idea; triads take three. KEY TERMS style the specific word choices and rhetorical devices (techniques of language) that speakers use to express their ideas. rhetorical device a technique of language to achieve a desired effect. cultural sensitivity a conscious attempt to be aware of and acknowledge beliefs, norms, and traditions that differ from ones own. biased language any language that relies on unfounded assumptions, negative descriptions, or stereotypes of a given groups age, class, gender, disability, and geographic, ethnic, racial, or religious characteristics. jargon specialized terminology developed within a given endeavor or field of study. abstract language language that is general or nonspecific. figure of speech an expression, such as a metaphor, simile, analogy, or hyperbole, in which words are used in a non-literal fashion. simile a figure of speech used to compare one thing to another with the word like or as (e.g., He works like a dog).

metaphor a figure of speech used to make implicit comparisons without the use of like or as (e.g., Love is a rose). analogy an extended metaphor or simile that compares an unfamiliar concept or process to a more familiar one in order to help the listener understand the one that is unfamiliar. malapropism the inadvertent use of a word or phrase in place of one that sounds like it. denotative meaning the literal or dictionary definition of a word. connotative meaning the individual associations that different people bring to bear upon a word. voice a feature of verbs that indicates the subjects relationship to the action; can be active or passive. repetition a technique that speakers use to stress key points; the speaker repeats words, phrases, or sentences at various intervals throughout a speech to create a distinctive rhythm. anaphora a rhetorical device in which the speaker repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. alliteration the repetition of the same sounds, usually initial consonants, in two or more neighboring words or syllables. parallelism the arrangement of words, phrases, or sentences in similar grammatical and stylistic form. Parallel structure can help the speaker emphasize important ideas in the speech. antithesis a type of parallelism in which two ideas are balanced in opposition to each other to create a powerful effect.